Louisiana Spill: Pipeline Repairs Underway

The U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office and ECM Maritime Services continued to respond to an oil discharge near Bay Long, Louisiana, on Sunday, with more than 6,000 gallons of oily-water mixture recovered so far.

Operations to safely repair the damaged section of pipeline are underway.

To date, 155 personnel, 25 boats, seven skimmers, and more than 12,000 feet of hard-boom have been deployed to contain and recover the product.

Approximately 200 birds have been observed as oiled to varying degrees in the Cheniere Ronquille Barrier Island and East Grand Terre Island areas. Response crews are working to safely capture the oiled wildlife for rehabilitation. To date, 11 birds and 1 Kemp's Ridley sea turtle have been collected. 

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is leading the assessment of the degree and extent of shoreline oiling. Aerial assessments are being conducted of the site and surrounding areas to guide response efforts to areas of highest priority.

An estimated 5,300 gallons of crude oil was discharged last Monday from a Harvest Pipeline Company pipeline after a subcontractor for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company tracked over it with a marsh excavator while performing restoration activities.