Garden Island Bay oil discharge

NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard responded to a crude oil discharge near New Orleans beginning Saturday (Dec.14) morning. The Coast Guard received a report at 7:27 a.m. that approximately 1,050 gallons of crude oil discharged into Garden Island Bay from the Whitney Oil and Gas Garden Island Bay Tank Battery 49 facility due to mechanical issues. The source of the spill has been secured. The discharge is all within previously placed containment booms, and caused a 180-foot by 60-foot dark black sheen on the water’s surface. Whitney Oil and Gas hired OMI Environmental Solutions as the oil spill response organization. OMI has two skimmers, two boats, and personnel currently working on active recovery of the product, and 420 gallons of oily water mixture recovered. The cause of the discharge is under investigation. (Source: Coast Guard 12/14/19)