The U.S. Coast Guard has taken charge of the oil spill cleanup near Garden Island Bay, Louisiana, after a major leak of oil and natural gas posed a threat to both the environment and public safety.
On May 1, the Coast Guard officially stepped in, taking over from Spectrum OpCo, LLC, the company responsible for the spill.
Using federal emergency funds, the Coast Guard hired a cleanup company called Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services Inc. to lead the response.
A team called the Unified Command, made up of the Coast Guard and Louisiana’s Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, is managing the cleanup. They’re working closely with local, state, and federal agencies to stop the leak and protect the area.
As of 11 a.m., more than 180 people were working on the response. Cleanup teams have already placed over 11,700 feet of containment boom in the water and are using skimmers and other tools to collect the oil.
Another 2,300 feet of boom is on standby. So far, about 32,700 gallons of oily water have been recovered, but officials don’t yet know how much oil has spilt.
A contractor specialising in well control is at the site trying to stop the leak. Equipment like cranes, piping, cutting tools, and storage barges is being brought in for the job.
Teams are also monitoring the weather carefully to make sure cleanup efforts can continue safely.
Aerial surveys are underway to track the spread of the spill, and air tests so far show no serious health risks. For safety reasons, vessels are being kept out of a one-nautical-mile area, and aircraft are restricted from flying too close.
So far, there haven’t been any confirmed cases of animals harmed by the spill. Authorities are asking anyone who sees oil in the water to report it to the National Response Centre at 800-424-8802.
If anyone spots wildlife that looks affected, they should call the Wildlife Hotline at 832-514-9663. People or businesses impacted by the spill can call 1-866-601-5880 for help.
The cleanup team is working with a long list of agencies, including NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local Louisiana departments. The cause of the spill is still being investigated.
Reference: USCG
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