US Coast Guard responds to oil spill near Garden Island Bay

The Unified Command, consisting of the US Coast Guard, Spectrum OpCo (operator), and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), is responding to mitigate public safety and environmental threats from an oil and natural gas release in coastal Louisiana.

As of 11:00 Tuesday, the Unified Command had more than 150 responders supporting response efforts. This included the deployment of six Marco skimmers, four drum skimmers, and a variety of recovery storage equipment.

Boom deployment continues, with 7,800 feet of 18” containment boom already in place, 2,000 feet enroute, and 6,400 feet on standby, according to the coast guard.

Responders have also deployed 382 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands. To date, oil spill removal organisations have recovered an approximate total of 9,492 gallons of oily liquids.

Flow rate and current amount discharged are still unknown at this time. A well control contractor is on-scene and conducting source intervention and control operations.

Aerial surveys are ongoing through both drone and helicopter overflights, and air monitoring has not indicated any immediate concerns in the response area. Additionally, for safety purposes, a temporary flight restriction has been put in place for a two-mile radius up to 2,000 feet.

The coast guard said there have been no reports or observations of impacted wildlife.