[StBernard] Statement on Oil Spill Response Priorities

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Thu Jul 29 08:19:41 EDT 2010


Statement on Oil Spill Response Priorities



Whereas on April 20, 2010 there occurred an explosion of the Horizon
Deepwater well; and



Whereas since the explosion of the well, an emergency declaration was
enacted by the governor of the State of Louisiana and each of the coastal
impacted municipalities; and



Whereas the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and
Disaster Act specifically defines the response authority in the State of
Louisiana and each parish within said state; and



Whereas in response to the Horizon Deepwater oil spill, as the largest oil
spill in world history, the president of the United States of America
declared the spill an incident of national significance and in doing so
appointed the United States Coast Guard, through Admiral Thad Allen, as the
Federal On-Scene Coordinator; and



Whereas BP (British Petroleum) was identified as the responsible party of
said national incident as referenced within the OPA 90 legislation; and



Whereas the appropriate response structure delineated in this national
incident was identified to be the Incident Command System; and



Whereas a reoccurring operational conflict has continued to develop which
partners the United States Coast Guard and BP and systematically seeks to
isolate and ignore the local and state authorities in a declared state of
emergency; and



Whereas the expressed goal and mission by the state of Louisiana and the
Louisiana coastal impacted municipalities is to protect our residents,
wildlife, estuaries, and fisheries in Louisiana waters, capture and collect
all oil which enters Louisiana waters, sustain the state and local economies
impacted by the oil spill disaster, clean and restore all damaged aspects of
our people, the Louisiana coast, waters, marshlands, and wetlands; and



Whereas the State of Louisiana and the oil spill impacted municipalities
stand to lose millions of dollars in direct and indirect revenues and local
commercial fishermen and related industries stand to lose equally as much;
and



Whereas, despite the positive impact that a capped well represents, there
continues to exist a need to remain fully engaged in to protect wildlife,
estuaries, and fisheries in Louisiana waters, capture and collect all oil
which enters Louisiana waters, sustain the state and local economies
impacted by the oil spill disaster, clean and restore all damaged aspects of
the Louisiana coast, waters, marshlands, and wetlands; and



Whereas the state of Louisiana and the coastal impacted municipalities stand
united in keeping all aspects of the oil spill response a local and national
priority;



Now Therefore Be It Understood that the State of Louisiana and the coastal
impacted municipalities hereby submit the following as priorities for the
next 100 days of the oil spill response in Louisiana:



1. That the Unified Command at the Incident Command Post in Houma, LA
and the Area Command in New Orleans, LA recognize the state and local
municipal authority during the duration of the oil spill response and that
they be included in all decision making, planning, and establishment of
timelines as such relates to the above stated goal and mission; and

2. That a systematic review of all equipment, personnel, assets, and
resources be completed by the local municipal branches, including the parish
president/mayor, the BP Branch Director and the USCG Branch Director, before
a demobilization plan is implemented; and

3. That the United States Coast Guard acknowledge and pledge their
support of the state and local municipal authority in participating in the
oil spill disaster response; and

4. That BP acknowledge and pledge their support of the state and local
municipalities participating in the oil spill disaster response; and

5. That the United States Coast Guard give great deference, to the
extent possible based on scientific or otherwise objective consultation, the
local municipalities during instances of operational disagreements between
local authorities and BP; and

6. That BP establish a recurring 60 day budget for each municipality to
utilize in planning and operational implementation and to embed a BP
representative within each said branch with the appropriate authority to
execute said budget; and

7. That directives be sent from BP higher authority or United States
Coast Guard higher authority to the branch level directors as such relates
to the operations of any local branch also including the designated parish
representative with such directive; and

8. That all current and previously approved response plans will
continue to conclusion without disruption from any BP or USCG.





This Joint Memorandum of Understanding is hereby approved and submitted by



Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, St. Tammany Parish President
Kevin Davis, Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, Terrebonne
Parish President Michel Claudet, Jefferson Parish President Steve Theriot,
Jefferson Parish Councilman-at-Large John Young, Jefferson Parish Councilman
Chris Roberts, Grand Isle Mayor David Camadelle, Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner,
St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin, Jr., and St. Bernard Parish President
Craig P. Taffaro, Jr.








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