Time to comment on priorities for restoring the Gulf, says RESTORE Council

The BP oil spill that began on April 20, 2010 and lasted 87 days, gushed 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Further tarnishing the ecosystem occurred following generous air drops of the dispersant Corexit around the area of Barataria Bay and in other affected regions, called "zones". Birds, turtles, dolphins, and people were sickened by the horrific spill and the dispersant effects. Coral in the Gulf is still suffering, an additional pummeling besides the blight of climate change.

Now it's time for people in the Gulf, those most affected by this disaster, to voice their pain and share their experiences.

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has announced the availability of the Draft 2017 Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support in accordance with the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act (RESTORE Act).

"In the draft CPS FPL, the Council proposes to provide its members with funding to enhance collaboration, coordination, public engagement and use of best available science needed to make efficient use of Gulf restoration funds resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These awards will support the Council’s commitment to a coordinated approach to ecosystem restoration, as called for in the Comprehensive Plan Update 2016: Restoring the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy. The draft CPS FPL is now available for public and Tribal review and comment at www.restorethegulf.gov," they wrote in a press release issued July 13.

To ensure consideration, the Council must receive written comments on the 2017 Draft Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support by 11:59pm MT August 14, 2017.

Further, the second of two informational webinars will be conducted July 25 (the first was on July 13). You may register for the webinar in advance. Once registered, a link to access the webinar will be sent to the email address you provide: July 25, 2017 at 2:00 pm Central Time [Webinar Registration Link]: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6303399390784342017

Please Note: all questions and comments typed will be considered as a public comment and will be part of the public record. This includes your name, e-mail, and any other information you provide.

Attendees will not have the ability to ask questions orally. When answering these questions, Council staff will not identify the participant asking the question(s). Council staff will provide written responses to all questions as part of the response to public comments.

HOW TO COMMENT: You may submit public comments via the following methods: Electronic Website Submission: www.restorethegulf.gov Email: frcomments@restorethegulf.gov Mail/Commercial Delivery to: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Attention: Draft FPL Comments Hale Boggs Federal Building 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1117 New Orleans, LA 70130

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please send questions by email to RestoreCouncil@restorethegulf.gov, or contact Keala J. Hughes at (504) 717-7235.

Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Images - Washing an oiled gannet, a victim of the BP oil spill, May 1, 2010

Another oil spill off the Louisiana coast, but contained within 36 hours

The U.S Coast Guard is responding to a natural gas and crude oil discharge from an abandoned wellhead owned by Hilcorp Energy near mile marker 10 on the Lower Mississippi River, southwest of Venice, Louisiana, according to a USCG.

The National Response Center, according to the Guard, received a report of the spill about 1:14 p.m. March 20.

Coast Guard members from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division were notified at approximately 1:30 p.m. March 20 about the discharge. According to the press release, the Guard arrived on scence about 10:30 yesterday morning, March 21. THey reported an estimated 840 gallons of crude oil was in the water (see photo).

The source of the spill was reported to be from Hilcorp Energy, who announced that the "source of oil" was secured approximately 9:45 p.m. yesterday.

Hilcorp Energy has contracted CUDD Well Control, OMI Environmental Solutions, and Clean Gulf Associates to conduct response operations. Boom, sorbent material, and skimming vessels are being deployed to slow the spread of oil and collect oil from the surface.

The Coast Guard is scheduled to fly over the area today to assess the situation.

Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division will oversee all response operations. And while the press release states "there are no reports of affected wildlife," watch this space for any reports that may come in after the overflight and in the days to come.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Gulf of Mexico Environmental News called Hilcorp for comment, and through a service was told a spokesperson for the company said they aren't answering calls right now.

Photo: A purportedly 840-gallon spill issued southwest of Venice from Monday afternoon before being contained last night, March 21. Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division

Update: 8:14 p.m. CT Mar 22: The following press release was issued from New Orleans: The Coast Guard reports that clean-up operations for an oil spill from an abandoned wellhead near Venice, Louisiana, that occurred March 21 have been completed, Wednesday.

Hilcorp Energy reported that the source of the oil discharge has been secured.

Members from the Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Incident Management Division assessed the scene of the incident via a flyover, a shoreline assessment, and a visual inspection of the wellhead, Wednesday.

There were no discrepancies or significant sheening reported.

Approximately 168 gallons of crude oil were reported to be collected during clean-up operations.