DEEPWATER HORIZON UPDATE May 11, 2010

MONDAY MAY 10

By the Numbers to Date:
Personnel were quickly deployed and approximately 10,000 are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife.

More than 290 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.

14 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., Amelia, La., and Cocodrie, La.).

Assets to Date
Total response vessels: more than 290
Boom deployed: more than 1 million feet (regular plus sorbent boom)
Boom available: more than 1.4 million feet (regular plus sorbent boom)
Oily water recovered: approximately 3.6 million gallons
Dispersant used: approximately 372,000 gallons
Dispersant available: more than 180,000 gallons
Overall personnel responding: approximately 10,000

The President Meets with Cabinet Members in the Situation Room
President Obama met with a number of Cabinet members and senior staff in the White House Situation Room to review BP’s efforts to stop the oil leak as well as to decide on next steps to ensure all is being done to contain the spread, mitigate the environmental impact and provide assistance to affected states, including individuals, businesses, and communities.

The President asked Secretary Chu to lead a team of top administration officials and government scientists to Houston this week for an extensive dialogue with BP officials to continue to aggressively pursue potential solutions.

In addition, to deal more generally with the harms created by oil spills, the President has requested that legislation be sent to Congress to toughen and update the law surrounding caps on damages.

EPA Administrator Jackson Returns to the Gulf Coast
Administrator Jackson made another visit to the Gulf region to oversee efforts to mitigate the environmental and human health impact of the ongoing BP oil spill—visiting Baton Rouge, La., to receive a briefing by Louisiana State University scientists; and Robert, La., to receive a briefing by federal agency scientists.

Property Damage Claims Processed
BP reports that 5,710 property damage claims have been opened, from which $2.4 million has been disbursed. No claims have been denied at this time. Approximately 60 operators are answering phones, and average wait time is currently less than a minute. To file a claim, or report spill-related damage, call BP’s helpline at (800) 440-0858. 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.

Lessons Learned from Exxon Valdez Examined
Alaska and Louisiana Sea Grant personnel are meeting regularly with Alaska Oil Spill Responders to explore lessons learned from the Exxon Valdez incident and possible applications to the Deepwater Horizon. NOAA’s Sea Grant is a university-based network of more than 3,000 scientists, engineers and educators.

Fish & Wildlife Field Crews Respond
Eight field crews have been deployed from the Dennis Pass Wildlife Staging Area to observe the impact on wildlife due to the spill. Wildlife search and capture teams conducted boat operations from the Lake Borgne to the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River and west to Cameron, La. Four helicopters conducted aerial surveys to observe wildlife and determine if rescue operations are needed in potentially affected areas.

Water and Sediment is Sampled
The U.S. Geological Survey completed water and sediment sampling at 16 sites along coastal Alabama and Mississippi. USGS is preparing for sampling in Texas and Florida, and also for sea-grass bed surveys.

Plans Begin for Bioremediation
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is assessing the capabilities of Plant Materials Centers and asking commercial growers to ramp up plant propagation efforts for potential future bioremediation efforts.

Aerial Dispersant Spray Missions Flown
Modular Aerial Spray System (MASS) aircraft flew multiple missions—dispensing the same dispersant chemical being used by BP and the federal responders. These systems are capable of covering up to 250 acres per flight.

SUNDAY MAY 9

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.

SATURDAY MAY 8

Expanded Low-Interest Small Business Loans
SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced that SBA is making economic injury assistance available in 21 additional parishes for small businesses suffering financial losses following the Deepwater BP oil spill that shut down commercial and recreational fishing along the state’s southeast coast. With these additions, SBA economic injury loans are now available in 34 Louisiana parishes and seven Mississippi counties.

FRIDAY MAY 7

Offshore Drilling Permit Applications Halted
Secretary Salazar announced that, as a result of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill, beginning April 20—the date of the explosion—no applications for drilling permits will go forward for any new offshore drilling activity until the Department of the Interior completes the safety review process that President Obama requested. In accordance with the President’s request, the Department will deliver its report to the President by May 28. The only exceptions to the new rule regarding permit approvals are the two relief wells that are being drilled in response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Expanded Fishing Restriction
NOAA has modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the oil spill, and is extending the fishing restriction until May 17. The closed area now represents slightly less than 4.5 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The original closure boundaries, which took effect last Sunday, encompassed less than three percent. This leaves many areas that are still available for fishing. The vast majority of Gulf waters has not been affected by the oil spill and continues to support productive fisheries and tourism activities. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and her staff will continue to meet with fishermen in the oil-affected area to listen to their concerns and share with them what NOAA scientists have learned so far about how the oil might be affecting their potential seafood catch.