DOINews: UPDATE: NPS and FWS Directors Dispatched to Command Centers

The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill

Prepared by the Joint Information Center

UPDATED May 9, 2010, 6PM

* For a full timeline of the Administration-wide response, visit the White House Blog.

PAST 24 HOURS

DOI Leadership Deployments

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar dispatched Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis and Acting Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Rowan Gould to command centers along the Gulf Coast to help lead efforts to protect coastal communities and natural resources from oil spill. Jarvis is stationed in the Mobile, Ala., Incident Command Center, and Gould is stationed in the Houma, La., Incident Command Center.

Drilling Rig Inspection and Oversight

MMS has completed its inspections of all 30 deepwater drilling rigs and is now inspecting all deepwater production platforms. The Minerals Management Service (MMS) continues to work with BP to explore all options that could stop or mitigate oil leaks from the damaged well. Pursuant to MMS's regulatory authority, all plans are being reviewed and approved by MMS before implementation.

Snare Booms Erected

Cleanup crews have placed snare boom to collect tarballs in the affected area on Dauphin Island. Snare boom can be staked along beaches and shoreline to act as a filter and prevent tarballs from coming ashore. Analysis of the tarballs is being conducted to determine the origin of the oil and may take 48 hours to complete. Shoreline assessment teams typically consist of three or four trained personnel prepared to evaluate a section of shoreline, equipped with proper protective gear. Trained volunteers may assist members of the group. Team members must have basic site safety training and training sufficient to complete an evaluation of the beach. Reports of tarballs can be made to the Coast Guard at any time at 1-800-448-5816.

13 Staging Areas Along Gulf Coast

13 staging areas have been set up to protect vital shoreline in all potentially affected Gulf Coast states (Biloxi, Miss., Pascagoula, Miss., Pensacola, Fla., Panama City, Fla., Dauphin Island, Ala., Grand Isle, La., Shell Beach, La., Slidell, La., Venice, La., Orange Beach, Al., Theodore, Al., Pass Christian, Ms., Cocodrie, La.).

NOAA Oversight Activities

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco met with scientists at the Dauphin Island (Ala.) Sea Lab and representatives from the Mobile (Ala.) Port Authority, and participated in a briefing at the Mobile Incident Command Center. NOAA continues to provide scientific support including: modeling the trajectory and location of the oil, getting pre-impact shoreline samples surveys and baseline measurements, and planning for open water and shoreline remediation.

NOAA Observational Flights

One of NOAA's P-3 (hurricane hunter) aircraft conducted a flight to help monitor the location of the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current. NOAA also flew missions for marine mammal surveys, coastal photography and mapping purposes.

By the Numbers to Date:

• Personnel were quickly deployed and approximately 10,000 are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife.

• More than 275 vessels are responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts—in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units.

• More than 1 million feet of boom (regular and sorbent) have been deployed to contain the spill—and more than 1.3 million feet are available.

• Nearly 3.5 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered.

• Approximately 325,000 gallons of dispersant have been deployed. More than 500,000 gallons are available.

• 13 staging areas have been set up to protect vital shoreline in all potentially affected Gulf Coast states (Biloxi, Miss., Pascagoula, Miss., Pensacola, Fla., Panama City, Fla., Dauphin Island, Ala., Grand Isle, La., Shell Beach, La., Slidell, La., Venice, La., Orange Beach, Al., Theodore, Al., Pass Christian, Ms., Cocodrie, La.).

Resources:

• For information about the response effort, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.

• To contact the Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center, call (985) 902-5231.

• To volunteer, or to report oiled shoreline, call (866) 448-5816. Volunteer opportunities can also be found here.

• To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system, or to submit alternative response technology, services, or products, call 281-366-5511.

• To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401. Messages will be checked hourly.

• For information about validated environmental air and water sampling results, visit www.epa.gov/bpspill.

• For National Park Service updates about potential park closures, resources at risk, and NPS actions to protect vital park space and wildlife, visit http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm.

• To file a claim, or report spill-related damage, call BP's helpline at (800) 440-0858. A BP fact sheet with additional information is available here. For those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP's resolution, can call the Coast Guard at (800) 280-7118. More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found here.