Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to NOAA marine mammal biologists and their local, state, federal and other research partners. Barataria Bay, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, received heavy and prolonged exposure to oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Based on comprehensive physicals of 32 live dolphins from Barataria Bay in the summer of 2011, preliminary results show that many of the dolphins in the study are underweight, anemic, have low blood sugar and/or some symptoms of liver and lung disease. Nearly half also have abnormally low levels of the hormones that help with stress response, metabolism and immune function. Researchers fear that some of the study dolphins are in such poor health that they will not survive.
NOAA and its local, state and federal partners started the Barataria Bay dolphin study in 2011 as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), the process for studying the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. NOAA is sharing the preliminary results from the study so that stranding responders and veterinarians can better care for live stranded dolphins and look for similar health conditions.
source: NOAA FishNews
Showing posts with label oil spills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oil spills. Show all posts
Friday, April 6, 2012
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
$27.5 Million to Restore Delaware River Damaged by 2004 Oil Spill
Federal and state agencies received $27.5 million to restore conditions for fish, birds, sensitive habitats, wildlife and recreational use of the Delaware River areas impacted in 2004 by an oil spill from the vessel Athos I. NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, collectively received the funds from the U.S. Coast Guard Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for nine restoration projects.
On Nov. 26, 2004, the Athos I, a large cargo vessel, struck a submerged anchor while preparing to dock in Paulsboro, N.J. The anchor punctured the hull, spilling nearly 265,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River, affecting habitats, aquatic life, birds and other wildlife over 280 miles of shoreline, as well as hindering recreational use of the river.
Under the Oil Pollution Act, states and designated federal agencies are trustees that evaluate the damage to and loss of natural resources from an oil spill and restore the habitat and resources to pre-existing conditions. Because the damage exceeded the statutory limits of liability of the owners of Athos I, the trustees submitted a claim to the U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center.
The projects will include:
Freshwater tidal wetlands restoration at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (Pa.)
Creation of oyster reefs (N.J., Del.)
Darby Creek dam removal and stream habitat restoration (Pa.)
Habitat restoration (marsh, grassland and meadow) at Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area (N.J.)
Shoreline restoration at Lardner’s Point (Pa.)
Blackbird Reserve Wildlife Area habitat restoration (pond and pasture enhancement) (Del.)
Improving the Stow Creek boat ramp (N.J.)
Installation of a rock jetty at Augustine Boat Ramp to address ongoing shoaling immediately offshore of the boat ramp (Del.)
Enhancing the recreational trail on Little Tinicum Island (Pa.)
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
On Nov. 26, 2004, the Athos I, a large cargo vessel, struck a submerged anchor while preparing to dock in Paulsboro, N.J. The anchor punctured the hull, spilling nearly 265,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River, affecting habitats, aquatic life, birds and other wildlife over 280 miles of shoreline, as well as hindering recreational use of the river.
Under the Oil Pollution Act, states and designated federal agencies are trustees that evaluate the damage to and loss of natural resources from an oil spill and restore the habitat and resources to pre-existing conditions. Because the damage exceeded the statutory limits of liability of the owners of Athos I, the trustees submitted a claim to the U.S. Coast Guard National Pollution Funds Center.
The projects will include:
Freshwater tidal wetlands restoration at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (Pa.)
Creation of oyster reefs (N.J., Del.)
Darby Creek dam removal and stream habitat restoration (Pa.)
Habitat restoration (marsh, grassland and meadow) at Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area (N.J.)
Shoreline restoration at Lardner’s Point (Pa.)
Blackbird Reserve Wildlife Area habitat restoration (pond and pasture enhancement) (Del.)
Improving the Stow Creek boat ramp (N.J.)
Installation of a rock jetty at Augustine Boat Ramp to address ongoing shoaling immediately offshore of the boat ramp (Del.)
Enhancing the recreational trail on Little Tinicum Island (Pa.)
source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Friday, May 28, 2010
NOAA Closes 54,096 Square Miles of Gulf
As of May 25, 2010, NOAA has extended the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to match the Louisiana state waters closure west of the current boundaries, and to incorporate an area reportedly with oil in the southwest.
The closed area now represents 54,096 square miles, which is slightly more than 22 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.
The closed area now represents 54,096 square miles, which is slightly more than 22 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.
Monday, May 10, 2010
New Website Registers Gulf Coast Oil Spill Volunteers
May 4, 2010 9:30am:
With nearly 7,000 volunteers registered into their database in just over four days, the founders of the www.OilSpillVolunteers.com web-site, are appealing to management at BP to make use of the resource they have developed and to assist them in coordinating a more proactive response to the effects of the destroyed Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
Don Abrams, a retired engineer who developed the web-site, is frustrated at the lack of significant response, “We have a database that identifies individuals with oil spill cleanup experience, identifies those who have HAZWOPER training as required by OSHA, identifies volunteers with boats. I gave a first list identifying trained volunteers to BP representatives Sunday morning,” he stated.
Abrams, along with his neighbor Melanie Allen, have worked to bring national governance and media attention to the disaster, developing their web-site into a recognized resource for the public to get information, links to resources, and volunteer for a proactive response to what they see as coming. “Organized and proactive is our mission,” said Allen,” Don and I do not want to wait before training and education comes to the community.”
Abrams offered BP representatives an opportunity to work with him on an oil containment ”Boom Monitoring Network” utilizing volunteers to track the conditions of the booms deployed in the four state region. When his offer was declined by BP, Abrams released the system himself, and it is now available at the web-site.
A report posted on May 4th identified where containment booms have become unmoored and washed ashore in one location. “We offered BP the eyes of local people who can see these booms from their living rooms and front porches, and they declined,” said Abrams.
Allen has identified on-line HAZWOPER and hazardous material training courses. “There is limited need to set up venues for this training. It is available on-line right now. And for those persons in need of in person training, as we have told the BP representatives with whom we were able to speak, we can give you the information identifying experienced instructors willing to teach the classes and in partnership with the City, can provide the venues. Why re-invent the wheel? Let’s deliver the education to the public in the most effective and efficient manner to expedite the process. We want to be proactive, not reactive. Lets reduce the lag time between the event and the constructive action plan. When we first spoke with BP representatives, we were told there would be no hazardous material training for volunteers. This morning the BP spokesman Andrew van Chau has announced that the four-hour crash course will be offered once logistics are arranged. An OSHA spokesman said Monday that adequate hazardous materials training and protection is foremost. We agree and are ready to assist in facilitating that process.”
“I hope that someone in upper management at BP will take note and get the gears of their bureaucracy moving. We are offering BP a valuable resource that will help them mitigate the problem they have created”, said Abrams. “We are not emotional and extreme in our approach. Our web-site is logically designed to enroll volunteers into a sort able database that identifies skills and training that can be put to work now. We are not pointing fingers, or raising our voices. We want to be at the table, joining hands to mitigate this problem as efficiently as possible.”
As of 11am on May 4th, the www. OilSpillVolunteers.com web-site was about to top 7,000 registered volunteers in their database. The Audubon Center in Moss Point has registered more than 4,000 volunteers, many previously trained in wildlife rescue. Abrams has since received a call from BP inquiring about the structure of their website’s database, and he hopes this will lead to ongoing constructive dialogue and collaboration.
for updates, visit www.OilSpillVolunteers.com
With nearly 7,000 volunteers registered into their database in just over four days, the founders of the www.OilSpillVolunteers.com web-site, are appealing to management at BP to make use of the resource they have developed and to assist them in coordinating a more proactive response to the effects of the destroyed Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
Don Abrams, a retired engineer who developed the web-site, is frustrated at the lack of significant response, “We have a database that identifies individuals with oil spill cleanup experience, identifies those who have HAZWOPER training as required by OSHA, identifies volunteers with boats. I gave a first list identifying trained volunteers to BP representatives Sunday morning,” he stated.
Abrams, along with his neighbor Melanie Allen, have worked to bring national governance and media attention to the disaster, developing their web-site into a recognized resource for the public to get information, links to resources, and volunteer for a proactive response to what they see as coming. “Organized and proactive is our mission,” said Allen,” Don and I do not want to wait before training and education comes to the community.”
Abrams offered BP representatives an opportunity to work with him on an oil containment ”Boom Monitoring Network” utilizing volunteers to track the conditions of the booms deployed in the four state region. When his offer was declined by BP, Abrams released the system himself, and it is now available at the web-site.
A report posted on May 4th identified where containment booms have become unmoored and washed ashore in one location. “We offered BP the eyes of local people who can see these booms from their living rooms and front porches, and they declined,” said Abrams.
Allen has identified on-line HAZWOPER and hazardous material training courses. “There is limited need to set up venues for this training. It is available on-line right now. And for those persons in need of in person training, as we have told the BP representatives with whom we were able to speak, we can give you the information identifying experienced instructors willing to teach the classes and in partnership with the City, can provide the venues. Why re-invent the wheel? Let’s deliver the education to the public in the most effective and efficient manner to expedite the process. We want to be proactive, not reactive. Lets reduce the lag time between the event and the constructive action plan. When we first spoke with BP representatives, we were told there would be no hazardous material training for volunteers. This morning the BP spokesman Andrew van Chau has announced that the four-hour crash course will be offered once logistics are arranged. An OSHA spokesman said Monday that adequate hazardous materials training and protection is foremost. We agree and are ready to assist in facilitating that process.”
“I hope that someone in upper management at BP will take note and get the gears of their bureaucracy moving. We are offering BP a valuable resource that will help them mitigate the problem they have created”, said Abrams. “We are not emotional and extreme in our approach. Our web-site is logically designed to enroll volunteers into a sort able database that identifies skills and training that can be put to work now. We are not pointing fingers, or raising our voices. We want to be at the table, joining hands to mitigate this problem as efficiently as possible.”
As of 11am on May 4th, the www. OilSpillVolunteers.com web-site was about to top 7,000 registered volunteers in their database. The Audubon Center in Moss Point has registered more than 4,000 volunteers, many previously trained in wildlife rescue. Abrams has since received a call from BP inquiring about the structure of their website’s database, and he hopes this will lead to ongoing constructive dialogue and collaboration.
for updates, visit www.OilSpillVolunteers.com
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Gulf of Mexico Bird Fallout
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received numerous reports of a migratory bird “fall-out” event in the vicinity of Gulf Breeze, Florida.
The term "Fallout" refers to birds that are alive and dropping down in big numbers along the migratory path, usually from natural exhaustion during their migration north. It does not mean the birds are falling dead out of the sky. In this case, bird watchers have seen this event in beach areas along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast.
According to Service migratory bird biologists, this is a common event that occurs annually.
“We're near the peak of the trans-Gulf migration,” said David Viker, the Service’s assistant regional director for migratory birds in the Southeast Region. “Tens of millions of tiny feathered birds that could fit in your hand are making the jump from South America to North America and are exhausted upon arrival.”
Recent severe weather along the Gulf coast may have also contributed to the birds' exhaustion. A USCG press releases states that this event is not related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The term "Fallout" refers to birds that are alive and dropping down in big numbers along the migratory path, usually from natural exhaustion during their migration north. It does not mean the birds are falling dead out of the sky. In this case, bird watchers have seen this event in beach areas along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast.
According to Service migratory bird biologists, this is a common event that occurs annually.
“We're near the peak of the trans-Gulf migration,” said David Viker, the Service’s assistant regional director for migratory birds in the Southeast Region. “Tens of millions of tiny feathered birds that could fit in your hand are making the jump from South America to North America and are exhausted upon arrival.”
Recent severe weather along the Gulf coast may have also contributed to the birds' exhaustion. A USCG press releases states that this event is not related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
EPA Louisiana Oil Spill Website
The EPA has launched a website (www.epa.gov/bpspill) to inform the public about the spill’s impact on the environment and the health of nearby residents. The website contains data from EPA’s air monitoring along with other information about the Agency’s activities in the region.
“We are taking every possible step to protect the health of the residents and mitigate the environmental impacts of this spill,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “For several days, EPA has been on the ground evaluating air and water concerns and coordinating with other responding agencies. We are also here to address community members -- the people who know these waters and wetlands best. They will be essential to the work ahead.”
In addition to monitoring air quality, EPA is also assessing the coastal waters affected by the spreading oil. EPA deployed twin-engine aircraft to assist in the collection of air sampling data and photograph the spill and surrounding area.
The site plans to publish data, frequently asked questions, fact sheets, and links to more information on the spill and the government’s response.
The EPA BP Spill website is:
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill
Information on efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies is available at:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
“We are taking every possible step to protect the health of the residents and mitigate the environmental impacts of this spill,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “For several days, EPA has been on the ground evaluating air and water concerns and coordinating with other responding agencies. We are also here to address community members -- the people who know these waters and wetlands best. They will be essential to the work ahead.”
In addition to monitoring air quality, EPA is also assessing the coastal waters affected by the spreading oil. EPA deployed twin-engine aircraft to assist in the collection of air sampling data and photograph the spill and surrounding area.
The site plans to publish data, frequently asked questions, fact sheets, and links to more information on the spill and the government’s response.
The EPA BP Spill website is:
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill
Information on efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies is available at:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Horizon Oil Spill in Louisiana - Update
As of April 29, 2010 new estimates of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Louisiana are said to be up to 210,000 gallons a day. Officials had estimated about 42,000 gallons of oil a day were leaking into the Gulf from the blown-out well drilled by the Deepwater Horizon oil rig. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead and more than 100 escaped the blast, the cause of which has not been determined.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Louisiana Oil Rig Disaster - Offshore Drilling Unit Sunk and Leaking
On April 24, 2010, the unified command for the Deepwater Horizon Explosion Response announced that the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit had capsized and was lying on the sea floor approximately 1500 feet northwest of the well site.
Remotely Operated Vehicles located two places where oil is leaking from the well pipe and estimates indicate that up to 1,000 barrels of oil a day could be leaking into the water approximately 5,000 feet below the surface.
The unified command consists of the Coast Guard and Mineral Management Service, in collaboration with BP, the responsible party.
Remotely Operated Vehicles located two places where oil is leaking from the well pipe and estimates indicate that up to 1,000 barrels of oil a day could be leaking into the water approximately 5,000 feet below the surface.
The unified command consists of the Coast Guard and Mineral Management Service, in collaboration with BP, the responsible party.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Oil Spill in Delta Wildlife Refuge
The Coast Guard, the State of Louisiana and Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL) responded to an oil spill from a pipeline in the Delta National Wildlife Refuge.
At approximately 1:00 a.m., Tuesday April 6, 2010 Berry Brothers General Contractors notified the Coast Guard that oil was discharging into a canal located approximately 10 miles southeast of Venice, La.
CPL, which operates the pipeline, reported that approximately 18,000 gallons of crude oil were released.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office – Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL), formed a Unified Command and were working to minimize the environmental impact of the spill.
The Coast Guard deployed pollution investigators in an HC-144A Ocean Sentry Aircraft that are evaluating the spill. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Coast Guard have pollution investigators in response boats on scene assessing the oil’s impact and monitoring clean-up efforts.
Upon receiving the initial report of the spill, CPL immediately closed off the affected section of the pipeline and has initiated its emergency response procedures to minimize the environmental impact of the spill. Specially trained company personnel and contractors are responding as part of a comprehensive program to minimize environmental impact. The pipeline is owned by Cypress Pipe Line Company which is a joint venture between British Petroleum and CPL.
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the spill.
source: USCG press release
At approximately 1:00 a.m., Tuesday April 6, 2010 Berry Brothers General Contractors notified the Coast Guard that oil was discharging into a canal located approximately 10 miles southeast of Venice, La.
CPL, which operates the pipeline, reported that approximately 18,000 gallons of crude oil were released.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office – Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and Chevron Pipe Line Company (CPL), formed a Unified Command and were working to minimize the environmental impact of the spill.
The Coast Guard deployed pollution investigators in an HC-144A Ocean Sentry Aircraft that are evaluating the spill. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Coast Guard have pollution investigators in response boats on scene assessing the oil’s impact and monitoring clean-up efforts.
Upon receiving the initial report of the spill, CPL immediately closed off the affected section of the pipeline and has initiated its emergency response procedures to minimize the environmental impact of the spill. Specially trained company personnel and contractors are responding as part of a comprehensive program to minimize environmental impact. The pipeline is owned by Cypress Pipe Line Company which is a joint venture between British Petroleum and CPL.
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the spill.
source: USCG press release
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