[StBernard] Rise in Confirmed Oil Sightings in St. Bernard Parish Waters and Marshes

[Westley Annis]

Rise in Confirmed Oil Sightings in St. Bernard Parish Waters and Marshes

Weather has allowed St. Bernard oil spill operations to conduct more
thorough scouting and reconnaissance in parish waters over the past 48
hours, resulting in a rise in oil sightings and reports of impacted
shorelines, marsh and wildlife. The south to north currents and prevailing
winds are pushing incoming oil into the outer fringes of the Biloxi Marsh
area and to areas just below the MRGO. 

 

During the past 48 hours more than 300 vessels worked to conduct boom
deployment, reconnaissance and repair, skimming operations and pollution
investigation in all divisions of St Bernard Parish waters. Crews deployed
2,000 feet of soft absorbent boom, 1,600 feet of hard containment boom to
help protect strategic points in parish waters, marshes and sensitive
wildlife areas. Two task forces deployed yesterday and three today to
conduct any needed skimming operations. The oil spill operations recovered
12 barrels of oil/water mix yesterday. Six over flights were conducted today
to monitor oil impact and to direct task forces as needed, one of which was
conducted by St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro and Colonel David
Dysart of Hopedale Branch Unified Command. 

 

The California dredge renewed work this weekend on the sand berm the state
is building in front of the Chandeleur Islands. The berm has successfully
stopped some oil and tar balls from going farther into St. Bernard Parish
waters and marshes and continues to be effective in collecting these oil and
tar balls. Louisiana National Guard troops collected 500 pounds of oiled
debris off of the berm over the past several days after bad weather and high
waves pounded the artificial island and washed oil and tar balls onto it.