Joint effort to contain La. oil spill

NEW ORLEANS – In a joint effort, the Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office and ECM Maritime Services continue to respond Sept. 8 to an oil discharge near Bay Long, La., in the southern sector of Barataria Bay near Chenier Ronquille Island. An estimated 5,300 gallons of crude oil was discharged Sept. 5 from a Harvest Pipeline Co. pipeline after a subcontractor for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. tracked over it with a marsh excavator while performing restoration activities. More than 4,400 gallons of oily-water mixture have been recovered. About 200 birds have been observed as oiled. Crews are working to safely capture the birds for rehabilitation. The state’s Department of Environmental Quality is conducting shoreline impact assessments. (Source: US Coast Guard 09/08/16) The cut occurred on a pipeline during a restoration project for the island. The $36 million barrier island reconstruction is being overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Monies for the project came from BP following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.