U.S. Coast Guard leading investigation; LDWF on site monitoring impacts on wildlife.
Nearly 1,500 gallons of oil have been recovered from a Bayou Dupont in Jefferson Parish after discharges were reported Sunday (Sept. 11), the U.S. Coast Guard said today.
The oil collected came near Wilkinson Canal, the Coast Guard reported.
Response crews have secured the source of the first reported discharge, while a second leak has ceased, the agency said.
A third leak was discovered yesterday near the southwest corner of the discharge site, but it is no longer actively spewing oil.
Containment boom has been placed around the leak by response crews.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans is coordinating response efforts with the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and Jefferson Parish Department of Evironmental Affairs.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 2:05 p.m. Sunday from a Plaquemine’s Parish operator who reported that a pipeline from a platform was leaking crude oil into Bayou Dupont and northern Barataria Bay.
The platform and associated wellheads are classified as orphaned by LDNR, with the last owner of record listed as Cedyco Corp.
Under authority provided by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Coast Guard issued an administrative order to Cedyco to secure the source of the discharge and to conduct clean-up operations.
The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund has been opened to provide monetary support for any federal clean-up organizations. The Coast Guard contracted Oil Mop, an oil spill removal organization, for clean-up operations.
Approximately 9,800 feet of boom have been deployed to contain the oil and seven oil response boats, two skimmers and 40 personnel are on scene participating in the clean up.
LDWF personnel are on scene to assess any impacts to wildlife; however, there were currently no reports of impacts to wildlife by this afternoon.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coast Guard, Jefferson Parish and LADEQ personnel are evaluating the impacts to the marsh and developing response strategies for the oil removal.
The Coast Guard continues investigating the cause of the incident.
