[StBernard] BP to remove anchors after oil spill

[Westley Annis]

BP to remove anchors after oil spill
Published: Jan. 30, 2011 at 3:06 PM

ST. BERNARD PARISH, La., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard told BP to
drop test anchors to find the best way to find and remove boom anchors left
in the Gulf of Mexico after the oil spill.

BP left behind thousands of boom anchors in the gulf and area waters, and
locating and removing them will occur in three phases, The (New Orleans)
Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

The first phase, to begin this weekend, concerns finding the best way to
remove the anchors. The second phase will involve finding and removing
anchors left in St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans. The last phase, if the
first two phases are successful, will involve recovering all remaining
anchors in state waters, The Times-Picayune reported.

St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro said an estimated 3,500 anchors
remain in his area alone.

The 20- to 70-pound anchors were used to secure the booms lining parts of
the Louisiana's to help keep the oil spewing from BP's Macondo well from
reaching the marshes, the newspaper said.

Local fishermen said BP contractors cut the boom from the anchors, leaving
them to snag and tear fishing nets. The anchor ropes get tangled in boat
propellers, the fishermen said..

"If we need to initiate litigation against BP then we will do that. But we
are very happy to see that (the plan) is progressing and we will monitor the
program," said Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts.



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