The thoughts of a storm stirring up the Gulf, hampering any cleanup or remediation drilling effort and creating a huge 10,000 square mile black stew is frightening to every professional in the business. … We expect to see the deterioration of the economic statistics for the US to reveal the onset of this oil-slick crisis in May … A ‘double-dip’ recession probably has been made more likely by this tragedy.’   see below.  Special thanks to  Richard Charter
Politico Playbook:  Monday May 03, 2010 Presented by University of Phoenix
By: MIKE ALLEN
May 03, 2010 08:21 AM EST
 
GULF RESPONSE: Secretary Napolitano did all six morning shows. … PRESIDENT OBAMA, in Louisiana yesterday: ‘We’re dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster.’ … BEHIND THE SCENES: ‘President Barack Obama talks with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, who is serving as the National Incident Commander, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, aboard Marine One as they fly along the coastline from Venice to New Orleans, La., May 2, 2010. John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, is in the background. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).’
BP IN ‘CRISIS GRINDER’ — ROBERT GIBBS, gaggling on Air Force One on the way BACK from Louisiana yesterday, on President Obama’s approach to BP: ‘I point you to what [Interior] Secretary Salazar said about — I think the phrase was — at least the phrase I heard earlier in the week with him was to keep the boot on their throat. So I think that kind of sums up in that Western Colorado way how — what we’re trying to convey.’ … WSJ A1, ‘BP’s Worsening Spill Crisis Undermines CEO’s Reforms,’ by Guy Chazan: ‘Tony Hayward thought he had finally slain all of BP PLC’s demons. Now a new one has reared up, and it’s the size of Puerto Rico. BP’s chief executive is coming under mounting pressure over the vast spill spreading in the Gulf of Mexico … From the moment Mr. Hayward learned of the disaster-in a 7:24 a.m. phone call over breakfast on April 21-he has been faced with the reality that this incident could erase his rehabilitation of the British oil giant. … BP heads into the crisis grinder that has chewed up big names like Toyota and Goldman Sachs.’
WORST CASE SCENARIO, via POLITICO’s Morning Money – David Kotok of Cumberland Advisors, in BusinessInsider: ‘This spew stoppage takes longer to reach a full closure; the subsequent cleanup may take a decade. The Gulf becomes a damaged sea for a generation. The oil slick leaks beyond the western Florida coast, enters the Gulfstream and reaches the eastern coast of the United States and beyond. … Monetary cost is now measured in the many hundreds of billions of dollars. … Soon we are entering the hurricane season. The thoughts of a storm stirring up the Gulf, hampering any cleanup or remediation drilling effort and creating a huge 10,000 square mile black stew is frightening to every professional in the business. … We expect to see the deterioration of the economic statistics for the US to reveal the onset of this oil-slick crisis in May … A ‘double-dip’ recession probably has been made more likely by this tragedy.’
WHITE HOUSE MESSAGE DU JOUR – President Obama, speaking yesterday in Venice, La.: ‘[T]he federal government has launched and coordinated an all-hands-on-deck, relentless response to this crisis from day one. … [W]e’ve made preparations from day one to stage equipment for a worse-case scenario. … I want to emphasize, from day one we have prepared and planned for the worst, even as we hoped for the best.’ Transcript
Cabinet members had used ‘day one’ 16 times during four Sunday-show appearances:
–Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’: ‘From day one, there has been the assumption here on the worst-case scenario. … We have to prepare for the worst, as we have from day one.’
–Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on CNN: ‘From day one, they were already pre-deploying vessels and booms and getting ready in case the scenario continued to worsen. … The Navy has been on-site since day one. There is kind of a myth out there that somehow the Department of Defense is now coming in. They actually have been there since day one.’
–Napolitano on ‘Fox News Sunday’: ‘The administration responded with all hands on deck from day one … The integrated command center … was already stood up, with the states involved, from day one.’
–Salazar on Fox: ‘We’re not sugarcoating this thing, and we need to make sure that we are prepared for the worst-case scenario, and we have been doing that since day one. … From day one the president has been involved in, informed, and has been directing us to do everything that we can and not to spare any effort. … So from day one we’ve been on top of this, every minute, 24 hours a day, trying to get this situation under control.’
–Napolitano, on ‘This Week’: ‘From day one, we were pre-positioning more than 70 vessels.’
–Salazar, on ‘Meet the Press’: ‘From day one we’ve been preparing for the worst-case scenario … The president has directed from day one that we spare nothing at all in terms of the effort to prevent damage onshore.’
–Napolitano on ‘Meet’: ‘We had DOD resources there from day one. This was a situation that was treated as a possible catastrophic failure from day one. … The physical response on the ground has been from day one as if this could be a catastrophic failure.’

http://www.keysnet.com/2010/05/01/215195/keys-have-all-eyes-on-spreading.html

By KEVIN WADLOW

kwadlow@keynoter.com

Posted – Saturday, May 01, 2010 11:00 AM EDT

Gulf of Mexico waters stained by a major oil spill reached the Louisiana coast Friday, causing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency for six Panhandle counties.

Crist called the scene in the northern Gulf — the oil is already lapping Louisiana’s shore — “horrific.”

In the Florida Keys, residents and officials could only watch with alarm and apprehension as an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil continue to gush into the Gulf.

“We are all very concerned,” said Sean Morton, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. “We’re downstream from the spill. Anyone familiar with oceanography and the currents in the Gulf knows that if the spill gets into the Loop Current, it will come down through the Keys and into the Florida Straits.”

Sanctuary staff, local responders with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies were coordinating efforts “to see where best to put our resources” if the oil cannot be contained before reaching South Florida.

“A major concern to me is the coral reef ecosystem on the tip of Florida,” Jerry Ault, a University of Miami marine biologist, told the Miami Herald.

Ault, an expert on Keys fish populations and an advisor to the National Marine Sanctuary, said, “Technically it’s the only living coral system in the continental U.S., and it’s a really sensitive system.”

Morton said at this point, officials have no idea whether the thick spill could reach the Keys, or the oil could be dispersed throughout the water column. He noted the Coast Guard hosted a practice drill for an oil-spill response only weeks ago.

“That’s good in terms of getting folks together to know each other’s faces and roles in this kind of situation,” he said. “That helps with the kind of coordination that has take place.”

Paul Johnson, a policy advisor for Reef Relief, was in Alaska in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil-spill disaster — which could be eclipsed by the Gulf spill in terms of ecological damage.

“People literally were cleaning rocks one at a time,” Johnson said. “That was the extent of spill-response technology then, and not much has changed. That won’t work in the mangroves.”

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig, about 50 miles off Louisiana, sank after an April 20 explosion and fire that apparently killed 11 platform workers.

Hopes that the oil was not leaking from a damaged pipe one mile below the surface were dashed. Not only was the oil leaking, but leaking far worse than believed possible.

Attempts to cap the spill this week failed. President Obama ordered all available Coast Guard units to assist with the spill. A solution could be weeks away.

Engineers were trying to design a massive metal dome and that would essentially catch the oil and funnel it so it could be pumped from the water. But nothing of the necessary scale has ever been attempted in waters so deep.

Attempts to light a controlled fire to burn off surface oil took place Thursday, with initial reports of some success in limited areas.

Gulf Coast commercial fishermen have already filed federal lawsuits against BP, the company leasing the Deepwater rig and legally responsible for the spill.

“This whole zone is a highly populated area with such fish as tuna, dolphin, wahoo, marlin, snapper, grouper and sharks, as well as turtles and birds,” says a report from Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service. “We are currently in the peak spawning season for Atlantic bluefin tuna, a threatened species, that are in this area now.”

Obama recently announced that he intends to approve expanded oil drilling in the Gulf, possibly as close as 30 miles to the sanctuary’s Tortugas Ecological Reserve around the Dry Tortugas. But White House officials said no action would be undertaken to advance the proposal until all aspects of the Deepwater Horizon sinking were analyzed.

From: Depnews [mailto:Depnews@dep.state.fl.us]
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:33 PM
Subject: DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION (ESF 14)
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010                                                                               (850) 921-0217
              www.FloridaDisaster.org
 
DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE DAY 2
 
TALLAHASSEE- – The State Emergency Response Team in support of the Department of Environmental Protection as the lead response agency for the state of Florida is actively monitoring the Deepwater Horizon response. Currently, there are no projected impacts to the state of Florida through Monday, so residents and visitors may continue with weekend activities as scheduled. However, it is possible that some areas along the coast may see indications of oil residue. Should any resident or visitor experience these impacts, please refer to the recommended actions listed below.
 
Response efforts by the state of Florida to date include:
·         The State Emergency Operations Center has activated to a Level 2 or Partial activation.
·         Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for the counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf.
·         The State Emergency Response Team has representatives at the Unified Command at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Mobile, helping to coordinate the efforts to protect Florida’s shoreline.
·         The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), county governments, water management districts and several federal agencies are conducting pre-impact assessments, including sampling of water, fish, shellfish, and habitats along the Florida coastline and into the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Recommended environmental actions:
·         There are rapid response teams staged to deploy to shorelines affected by oil to evaluate and determine an appropriate clean-up effort to minimize the impact to the environment. To report any sightings of oil residue, please call BP’s oil report line at (866) 448-5816.
·         If any air quality changes are suspected, residents may report them at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
·         Residents and visitors concerned about Florida’s air quality may view an up-to-date map with pollutant concentrations at www.airnow.gov.
·         Individuals should not attempt to help injured or oiled animals, but to report any sightings to the following toll-free number: (866) 557-1401.
·         Homeowners may be able to help prevent any oil from reaching yards and damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sandbags or sorbent booms. To obtain more information on these types of protective measures, please contact BP’s community information line at (866) 448-5816.
 
Recommended health actions:
·         At this time, there are no indications of any health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. However, any person who is concerned about change in air quality due to this event should contact their primary health care provider.
·         As with wildfires and other events that increase particulate matter in the air, consider staying inside, in an air-conditioned room and change the air-conditioner filter to ensure peak performance.
·         Avoid strenuous activities outside.
·         Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or other serious symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
·         Should Florida’s coastline become affected by the incident, avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If any oil is sighted or smelled, leave the area right away.
·         Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments.
·         Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if traveling through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If oil makes contact with skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.
·         Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
·         Do not harvest and eat dead fish, fish with oily residue or fish that have a petroleum odor.
·         Avoid boating through oil slicks or sheens.
·         Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid the area.
·         Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
 
Recommended volunteer opportunities:
·         For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit www.VolunteerFlorida.org.
·         BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for those interested in volunteering.  When calling, interested parties should communicate what they are volunteering for what areas they are available to work in.  In addition, potential volunteers may call this line to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations.
·         For information on assisting with the response efforts, please contact BP’s community information line at (866) 448-5816.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Florida’s Deepwater Horizon Response, please visit www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon. The following is a link to the State Emergency Response Team Situation Report for Saturday, May 1, 2010: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/situation_report3_050110.pdf
 
###
 
The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service you received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey. Thank you in advance for completing the survey.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/gulf-oil-spill-could-be-disastrous-for-florida-653796.html

Yeah, it could impact the economy, but I am more concerned with the environment it is destroying… DeeVon

Palm Beach Post
By JEFF OSTROWSKI
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 9:02 a.m. Saturday, May 1, 2010
Posted: 7:56 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2010
If there’s one thing Florida’s battered economy doesn’t need, it’s a massive oil spill and the threat of tar balls washing up on beaches.

State tourism officials fret that the still-growing slick in the Gulf of Mexico could inflict lasting financial damage.

“This is one thing that could hurt more than a recession, more than four hurricanes coming into Florida in one season,” said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and a member of the board of Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing arm. “This could have lingering, disastrous implications.”

Florida’s tourism industry, built in large part on white-sand beaches and warm water, has never weathered a significant oil spill. It could get worse: Some oceanographers say gulf currents could carry oil to Atlantic beaches in a few weeks.

Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday declared a state of emergency for six Panhandle counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay and Gulf. But even if the damage is contained to that area, hoteliers and restaurateurs from Destin to Amelia Island could suffer, Grossman said.

“To most of our visitors, Florida is Florida,” she said.

Florida’s economy is especially fragile, with unemployment soaring and home sales plummeting in recent years. Tourism has picked up from a year ago but remains well below boom-time levels.

“If we start seeing oil slicks washing up on our beaches, that could have a significant impact on tourism at a time when tourism is pretty weak to begin with,” said Sean Snaith, an economist at the University of Central Florida. “Talk about getting kicked when you’re down.”

Bargain-hunting foreigners have played a key role in tourism spending and real estate investment, but images of an oil spill might frighten them off, Snaith said.

Others are more optimistic. Roger Amidon, executive director of the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, said he does not expect oil to reach beaches here.

“Right now it doesn’t seem to be a threat,” he said. “We’re keeping a close eye on it, because we know how much of an impact it could have on tourism if it does hit.”
Attractions such as Walt Disney World and Sea World won’t be affected, said Kathy Torian, spokeswoman for Visit Florida. “There’s still every reason to come to Florida, because we have so much besides beaches,” she said.

Meanwhile, the spill sapped support for offshore drilling. President Obama, who recently lifted a moratorium on drilling in many offshore areas, on Friday directed that no new offshore drilling leases be issued unless rigs have new safeguards to prevent a repeat of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

Gov. Charlie Crist, once a supporter of new drilling, said the oil slick “puts the kibosh” on any more talk of expanded drilling in the gulf.
Crist plans to head to Pensacola this weekend to monitor the situation. In a letter to federal officials, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said the spill could devastate the state’s $65 billion tourism economy, environment and fishing industry.
Staff writer Michael Bender and The Associated Press contributed to this story. Special thanks to  Richard Charter

From:   Joint Information Center [mailto:deepwaterhorizonresponse@hotmail.com]
Sent:   Saturday, May 01, 2010 10:43 AM Eastern Standard Time
Subject:        UPDATE: 14 Deepwater Horizon update

DATE: May 01, 2010 09:39:56 CS
ROBERT, La. – The unified command continues with a comprehensive oil-well intervention and spill-response plan following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans.  Nearly 2,000 personnel are involved in the response effort with additional resources being mobilized as needed. The federal government has been fully engaged in the response since the incident occurred April 20.

The Minerals Management Service remains in contact with all oil and gas operators in the sheen area. Two platforms have stopped production and one has been evacuated as a safety measure. Approximately 6.2 million cubic feet of natural gas is shut-in. This is less than one-tenth of a percent of daily gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Response crews worked through the night using a ROV to dispense 3,000 gallons of sub-surface dispersant at a rate of nine gallons per minute. BP and NOAA are evaluating the results of the test procedure to determine its feasability for continued use.

Oil Report Line/Volunteer Line – (866)-448-5816

 Rapid response teams are staged to deploy to shorlines affected by oil to evaluate and determine an appropriate clean-up effort to minimize the impact to the environment.

BP has established a volunteer program and set up a toll-free number for people to call.  When calling, people should communicate what they are volunteering for what areas they are available to work in.  In addition, people can call to learn about the training that is required to work in oil spill clean-up operations. 

Claim  Line (800)-440-0858
BP has established a claim system and an 800 number for people to call.  This system will allow people to begin the process to recover lost income or recoup damage related expenses.
To report oiled or injured wildlife, please call 1-800-557-1401.
 Incident Facts:

More than 275,580 feet of boom (barrier) has been assigned to contain the spill.  An additional 316,470 feet is available.

To date, the oil spill response team has recovered 23,968 barrels (1,006,656 gallons) of an oil-water mix.
68 response vessels are being used including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels.

142,914 gallons of dispersant have been deployed and an additional 68,300 gallons are available.

Six staging areas are in place and ready to protect sensitive shorelines.  These areas include:

Biloxi, Miss., Pensacola, Fla. Venice, La., Pascagoula, Miss., Theodore, Ala., and Port Sulphur, La.

Weather conditions for May 1 – Winds from the southeast at 20 – 25 knots, 6 – 8 foot seas with chance of afternoon showers.
126 people were on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig when the incident occurred. 11 remain unaccounted for; 17 were injured, 3 of them critically.  1 injured person remains in the hospital.

For the latest information visit  www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RobertLAJIC or on Facebook at Deepwater Horizon Response.

For media needing more information regarding the Deepwater Horizon incident, contact the joint information center at (985) 902-5231/5240.

To submit alternative response technology, services or products please email horizonsupport@oegllc.com or call (281) 366-5511.

View this document online <https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/535191/>
Joint Information Center
Gulf of Mexico-Transocean Drilling Incident <https://www.piersystem.com/go/site/2931/>

Visit this link to unsubscribe <http://www.piersystem.com/unsubscribe/13b72f7?email=mbeetham%40defenders.org>

Special thanks to Richard Charter