Deepwater Horizon Response Planning for Longboat Key

 

 

On Tuesday, April 20, 2010 an offshore oil drilling platform, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana.  Efforts to curtail the release of oil into the Gulf of Mexico have thus far, been only partially successful.

 

In order to be prepared for a potential oil contamination situation, Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. (CPE), the Town’s beach engineering consultants, have been authorized by the Longboat Key Town Commission to develop a local response plan that supplements the US Coast Guard plans in the event our beaches are impacted.  The Town’s debris management contractors, Ash Britt, Inc. have also been notified to be prepared to respond in the event the Town experiences any impacts that would require mobilization in our area.

 

The Town’s plan will be incorporated into the response plan developed by Sarasota County and Manatee County Emergency Management Departments.  The County response plans are, in turn, rolled into the State of Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) response plan.  The Town is required to have its plans incorporated into the Counties’ and State plans order to insure maximum reimbursement for preparedness, protective measures, and response to the oil spill disaster.  British Petroleum (BP), as the responsible party, remains financially liable for damages sustained as a result of this disaster.  Due to the myriad of State and Federal laws and regulations, as well as the legal liability upon BP, it is important that cleanup operations are handled through authorized channels and by trained professionals.

 

As part of the Town’s ongoing preparedness efforts the Town is working closely with both Sarasota County and Manatee County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in staying abreast of developments regarding the migration of the oil and what impacts, if any, can be anticipated in our area.  Flyovers performed by Coast Guard C-130 aircraft over the west coast of Florida on Tuesday, June 8th did not find any significant oil sheens close to our shores.

 

Due to the heightened awareness many call centers are experiencing an increase in reports of oil sheen, tar balls, and tar patties.  Trained personnel have investigated and analyzed those materials and, up to this point, there have been no confirmed physical impacts to Southwest Florida coastal communities.

 

Southwest Florida beaches and coastal communities remain free of impacts from this oil spill at this time.  Florida continues to monitor the location of the Loop Current Ring to predict when, or if, further impacts to Florida’s coastlines will occur.  There are no indications of health risks, or oil impacts in the Southwest Florida region.  There is also no planned use of, or need to deploy, dispersants in Florida waters at this time.

 

Dime to silver dollar-sized tar balls and tar patties have been found in widely scattered areas from the Alabama/Florida State line east to Okaloosa County and are being cleaned up by trained teams.  In areas of the State outside the Panhandle region, reports of tar balls, tar patties, or other perceived oil impacts from the Deepwater Horizon spill, have been investigated and have been determined to be organic marine material and are not connected to the Deepwater Horizon event in any way.

 

If residents or visitors see tar or oiled debris on the beach or coastline, DO NOT PICK IT UP. Report it to the Florida State Warning Point Line at 1-877-272-8335 or #DEP from most cell phones.  You may also call Sarasota County 941-361-5000 or Manatee County 941-748-4501 to report oil sightings.

 

For general health information questions regarding the oil-spill and exposure to oil spill products contact the Florida Poison Information Centers at 1-800-222-1222.

 

Floridians and visitors wanting to volunteer to become a Coast Watch volunteer can go to: www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org   In addition, volunteers helping with response efforts are not to engage in direct contact with oil and oil contaminated products such as tar balls, tar patty, tar mats, and oil sheen. Only qualified community responders should handle oil products and oil-contaminated materials.

 

Please click on any of these attached links for additional information regarding the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

 

Deepwater Horizon Response links: