Tuesday, June 15
June 15, 2010Thursday, June 17
June 17, 2010
Still oil-free along its coast, St. Mary Parish is intensifying its efforts to remain that way.
The St. Mary Parish Council is also among local governments calling upon President Barack Obama to reduce the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling to 30 days.
The council unanimously approved two resolutions at last week’s regular meeting. The first, seeks a reduction by five months of the moratorium. The second calls for a new type of oil rig to be built by local companies and their suppliers – companies that operate along Louisiana’s coast.
BP opened a claims office in Bayou Vista at the St. Mary Plaza. The company will host an open house at the site tomorrow.
The parish’s emergency preparedness director, Duval Arthur, said the parish is stepping up its efforts to keep oil off the parish’s shoreline. Only a small amount of Deepwater Horizon’s spill – about the size of a football field – has been reported in St. Mary. It was found south of Marsh Island, below Centerville.
Arthur said more than 50,000 feet of boom is now in water along the St. Mary Parish coast. Of that, 31,000 feet has been laid at barrier islands along the mouth of the Atchafalaya River where a variety of habitats reside.
The remaining 12,000 feet has been deployed around Marsh Island south of New Iberia in an effort to protect the fish-hatching area in the marsh.
Arthur said the parish has also assembled a fleet of equipment, which is in the water, ready to take action in the event that it is necessary. “I’d rather have my tools in water, than sitting on a dock in Morgan City, waiting,” he said.
The assembly includes 30 workboats, three skimmer barges and a skimmer, a living quarter barge for personnel, three jack-up barges, three deck barges and one fuel barge.
“Our plus is the fact that the Atchafalaya River’s outflow is so strong; it can and has flushed away any approaching oil,” the director explained.
The parish council, meanwhile, has entered the fight against the oil spill, but from an economic view.
Council members included in their resolution to the president a long list of economic casualties as a result of the moratorium. Among these is a $1 million loss daily in supply boat rental income; 6,000 potential layoffs over a three-week period; and the projected loss of more than 20,000 over the next 18 months.
The resolution also asks that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) conduct a thorough inspection of all deepwater drilling facilities in the Gulf. MMS is also asked to implement strict safety measures and take enforcement actions to ensure compliance with safety measures.
In its second resolution, the council is asking that existing companies and their vendors create a replacement rig. The work would be completed in the Gulf Coast region by companies with investments in the region.
In other spill-related news, BP officials held an informal press conference last week at the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce office to announce tomorrow’s training for its Vessels of Opportunity program. Two four-hour sessions will be held; one at 9 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m. at Morgan City High School.
“Once people complete the training, they can get on a list to help with the Deep Water Horizon incident, if and when any help is needed in the St. Mary Parish area,” said Karen Wheatley, BP’s community liaison.
Captains, boat owners and deckhands are invited to attend the sessions.
“Each session is free and classes are limited in size; therefore, space will be available on a first-come, first served basis,” Wheatley said.
Boat owners seeking work must submit their boat’s name, its owner, dimensions, characteristics, including length, draft and horsepower and other pertinent information, she said.
The claims center, located at the old ABC Rental building on U.S. Highway 90, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
BP spokesman Tom Mhire said tomorrow’s open house at the Baldwin Community Center will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.
“This will be an opportunity to get your questions answered. Also, anyone who feels their business has been affected by the oil spill, can find out information on how to file a claim,” Mhire said.
Applicants are required to provide income documentation and all fishing licenses and vessel registration. A valid U.S. identification is also needed.
“It’s very frightening to think that as bad as the oil spill is, to think that this community could have a large amount of unemployed folks, because oil plays such a major part in the economy, in this area,” BP spokesman Jack Berry said.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Barbara Wilk, investigating officer from Marine Safety Unit Morgan City, La., testifies at the Deepwater Horizon joint investigation hearing, May 12, 2010. * Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas M. Blue
