Tuesday, May 4
May 4, 2010Thursday, May 6
May 6, 2010
The coastlines of Louisiana could be changing in rapid fashion, as thousands of gallons of crude oil continues to make its way inland from the Gulf of Mexico, bearing a likeness to the natural disasters that have paraded the region year after year.
This time, however, it’s not hurricanes or colossal waves emitting the danger. It’s a much different scenario, but the end result could be the same.
More than two weeks ago, the BP Deepwater Horizon exploded about 52 miles southeast of Venice, La. Along with the presumed death of 11 crewmembers working on the platform, the rig began leaking oil as its infrastructure deteriorated. Over the last 15 days, the situation has worsened, exposing the state – and its people – to an entourage of problems.
About 210,000 gallons of oil, according to officials, now courses into the Gulf each day, giving way to an oil slick that has become so large it could soon threaten parts of Mississippi and Alabama.
The villainous crude has already made its way toward Breton National Wildlife Refuge, an area that lies northeast of Venice, which serves as a critical breeding ground and staging area for birds seeking asylum during the winter months.
While the oil has yet to spread westward, mainly due to winds and ocean currents that are pushing the slick to the east, it’s still too soon to tell whether the Tri-Parish area will become a target in the future, said area officials.
Each passing day allows more oil to escape from the well located nearly 5,000 feet below the surface.
In response, players from all levels of the spectrum are jockeying for support to encapsulate the leak and restore power to the Gulf.
But efforts recently have been stumped due to rough seas and high winds, putting a leash on planes dropping dispersants and vessels laying boom. In the corner office, though, things continue to thrust forward.
Officials from Terrebonne Parish held a press conference last week to discuss the issue and field concerns from residents.
LOCAL LEVEL SENTIMENT
A room that is typically barren became host to a cluster of about 75 people last Friday, most voicing concern over the crude’s potential to reach land.
“It’s too early to tell,” is the response many officials wielded, as changing weather patterns and BP’s ability to effectively deal with the situation could greatly affect the outcome.
Council members were discussing affordable housing developments four days prior, quite a change from the controversial topic that has catapulted to the forefront of everyone’s agenda.
Residents and business owners lined the walls, waiting intently for a simple solution to a complex problem. But that never came.
Many criticized the highly popular methods of containment like laying booms, questioning their effectiveness in the sometimes-volatile Gulf waters.
The water, alongside the oil,”will be washed right over them if the seas get rough enough,” admitted Terrebonne’s Public Safety Director Ralph Mitchell.
However, the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority, working closely with BP contractors, began requesting applications from local vessel owners willing to lay boom.
On Monday, about 146 ships had signed up, according to TEDA’s CEO Mike Ferdinand. He also said that some had been called up for duty.
“This is a serious matter and [nobody] up here is taking it lightly,” said Terrebonne Parish Councilmember Clayton Voisin. He acknowledged officials are unsure how the spill will affect Terrebonne in the long run.
While some are earning their wages amidst the cleanup efforts, many in the region fear the opposite, as the seafood industry braces for impact.
Sutzie David, owner of Bayou Express Seafood and Catering in Houma, asked officials if she would be reimbursed for losses she might experience in the future. The short answer was ‘yes.’
“Documentation is going to be the key to this whole process,” explained Mitchell. “Document everything, [including projected losses.]”
It’s uncertain how those documents will be interpreted once they are turned in, noted Ferdinand.
This time of year, business is usually good for David, who has had to combat a flurry of worry from customers concerned with contaminated seafood. While her sales aren’t lacking yet, she fears things could change if the tides turn.
“Our seafood is safe. Everything on the shelf right now is safe, even if you get it from a boat. Nothing that is unsafe is going to get into the consumers hands,” touted Katherine Gilbert, business retention and expansion director for TEDA.
But for David, that assurance might not be enough.
“[This] could be catastrophic for the whole Gulf Coast,” she said.
In the wake of the response effort, BP has vowed to pay all costs associated with the incident, including property damage, personal injury and commercial losses of earning and profit. But that move could still underscore the potential damage the slick could have on local wildlife and wetlands if it reaches dry land.
For now, those on the local end will remain guardians – watching and waiting.
“At this time, it appears the spill will stay to our east,” said Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph in a news release. “The U.S. Coast Guard and BP are handling the clean-up operations offshore, but if this oil spill threatens Lafourche, we will be ready to respond to protect our parish.”
A STATE’S PLEA
Gov. Bobby Jindal, hand in hand with officials from the White House, has also made strides to ensure compensation for locals most affected by the spill, attempting to employ the help of the Oil Pollution Act (OPA).
If approved, the measure would provide relief to workers displaced as a result of the incident. Disaster related workforce training and job placement services are also part of the package.
“The declaration that this discharge is a spill of national significance should allow federal authorities, within the parameters of the OPA, to approve programs and resources the state needs to adequately respond to this incident,” explained Jindal in a news release.
“We realize that under OPA, the responsible party (RP) is liable to provide for all needs in this instance. In an abundance of caution, we are seeking this preliminary approval should the RP’s plans fall short of meeting the needs of our people,” he said.
Jindal also asked authorities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve the distribution of commodities to disaster relief agencies throughout the state, many of which would be funneled to shelters, mass feeding sites and individual households.
That move was also part of the OPA.
With those efforts moving through the chain of command, Jindal remains weary of BP’s ability to handle the spill and preserve the area’s natural resources, and namely, its population.
“We continue to be concerned about BP’s ability to respond to this incident. As we continue to work with local leaders on the ground, we are focused on forward-leaning and proactive action. I want to be very clear on this point – this incident is not just about our coast. It is fundamentally about our way of life in Louisiana,” he said in news release. “We have to do absolutely everything we can to protect our land, our businesses and our communities.”
Littered along the coast, parishes have started sculpting contingency plans that will essentially undermine BP’s quickly dissolving authority when it comes to coastal protection. Those in Plaquemines Parish have already been given a “thumbs up,” with several others following suit.
BUSINESS AS NORMAL
Even with the latest rush of ill will against industry officials, to the west of Venice, things don’t look much different.
“It is really business as usual when it comes to Port Fourchon,” said Chett Chiasson, the port’s executive director. “We’re still sending everything we need to service the oil and gas industry out. The oil, to this point, is still well east of the [Mississippi River].”
Some operations in the direct path of the oil slick have been hampered, said Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Don Briggs.
“But the vast majority of the Central Gulf of Mexico operations are to the west of the Mississippi,” he explained.
However, for an industry that has been recently plagued with bad luck, the incident could make future drilling operations a handsome burden.
“This certainly gives the opponents to the industry, which there are many, the opponents naturally are able to grandstand,” noted Briggs. “This spill is unprecedented, but it does not define the industry.”
He also said areas that were being considered for future exploration, like off the coast of Florida, will now be hard fetched.
Despite the mishap, the majority of offshore operations will continue “as normal,” said experts, with fluctuations in gas prices and productivity unlikely.
What’s At Stake: Affects of spill could have lasting impact on waterlife
FISH
The late spring and early summer are spawning months for fish, according to the director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.
SHRIMP
Shrimp also spawn in early May. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries opened a special trawling season for white shrimp last week.
OYSTERS
Because of their lack of mobility, oysters are of concern. If oil intrudes this year’s crop, future generations of oysters could be in danger.
CRABS
Crabs crawl out of water and go onto land when their swimming area becomes low with oxygen. It’s difficult to quantify how many will make it to shore.
BIRDS
Now is a prime time for birds to migrate into the Gulf Coast. It’s not likely the migratory birds will interact with the spill, but several local wader birds might be impacted.
President Barack Obama talks with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen and Gov. Bobby Jindal aboard Marine One as they fly along the coastline Sunday. * AP Photo/The White House, Pete Souza
