[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish Oil Spill Update for 7/5/2010

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish oil spill operations deployed over 157 vessels to conduct
oil cleanup, reconnaissance, boom inspection, replacement and repair today.
Crews did boom repair around Brush and Comfort Islands yesterday, and
Comfort Island received an additional 400 feet of hard oil containment boom.
3,500 feet of soft absorbent boom was deployed in Divisions One and Two of
St. Bernard parish waters yesterday. 

Members of St. Bernard Parish Unified Command and Operations personnel
acquired a mass of every day pool skimmers that were used on board 36
Commercial Fishing Fleet vessels on Sunday. As a result of this skimming
operation, crews collected five 25-pound bags of tar balls from St. Bernard
waters. These operations continued today with 30 vessels scooping for tar
balls and emulsified oil. Additionally, St. Bernard Commercial Fishing Fleet
vessel, the "Lil Ricky" collected 10 barrels of oil near the Chandeleur
Islands over the weekend. 

St. Bernard Parish oil spill operations has acquired the use of  two Harbor
Busters, a U.S. Navy skimming asset that can either by towed or anchored in
current streams, and collects tar balls, emulsified and heavy oil in a
compartment. The Current Buster, a larger version of this asset, also was
acquired and is used in the same capacity. Because of current sea
conditions, skimming operations with these assets have been minimal due to
oil being dispersed by weather. Operations personnel are monitoring weather
conditions and oil sightings and will seize the very next opportunity to
utilize these assets as needed. Operations still need vessels with skimming
capabilities able to handle sea states over 6 feet. 

For more information, contact Jennifer Belsom, Oil Disaster Public
Information Officer at 504-444-6249 or jbelsom at sbpg.net.