NEW ORLEANS–(ENEWSPF)–Oct. 6, 2010.  The following information is an operations update from the Unified Area Command for the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Approximately 18,589 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline, wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines. To date, every seafood sample from reopened waters has passed[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–October 5, 2010.  NOAA today reopened to commercial and recreational fishing 2,927 square miles of Gulf waters off eastern Louisiana, directly south and southwest of East Bay. This is the eighth reopening in federal waters since July 22. This reopening was announced after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–October 1, 2010.   Statement from Admiral Allen on the Transfer of Oversight Responsibilities “Today the National Incident Command is disestablished and I have transferred oversight of the BP oil spill response to Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft, the Unified Area Commander, in New Orleans. Response operations will continue under transition[Read More…]

HOUSTON–(ENEWSPF)–October 1, 2010.  BP announced today that it has pledged certain Gulf of Mexico assets as collateral for the $20 billion Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust which was set up to pay legitimate claims arising from the April 20 incident. The pledged collateral consists of an overriding royalty interest in[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–October 1, 2010.  NOAA today reopened to commercial and recreational fishing 5,628 square miles of Gulf waters off eastern Louisiana, just west of the Mississippi River delta. This is the seventh reopening in federal waters since July 22. This reopening was announced after consultation with U.S. Food and Drug[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–October 1, 2010.   “I am profoundly grateful to Admiral Thad Allen for his years of dedicated service to America, and particularly his outstanding leadership of the BP Oil Spill response effort.  At a time when he could have enjoyed a well-deserved retirement from the United States Coast Guard, Admiral[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–September 30, 2010.  The Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the co-trustees for natural resources affected by the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill announced yesterday they have started the injury assessment and restoration planning phase of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, a legal process to determine[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–September 28, 2010.   “I appreciate the hard work, led by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, to develop this recovery and restoration plan for the Gulf Coast.  The BP oil spill has created significant environmental and economic challenges for the region.  My Administration is committed to working with the people of[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–September 28, 2010.   Paul Zukunft:        Well, good afternoon.  Thank you for joining us.  And again, it’s great to be joined by NOAA, our scientific support coordinator, and also with David who represents academia as we look at this phase of the operation, as we look at what’s below the[Read More…]

Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–September 28, 2010.  NOAA’s Fisheries Service first prohibited commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters impacted by the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill as a seafood safety measure in early May. The closed area was 88,522 square miles or 37 percent of the Gulf of Mexico federal waters at its[Read More…]