Tuesday’s Escambia Oil Update

May 11, 2010

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Here is the latest Deepwater Horizon oil spill information specific to Escambia County for Tuesday, May 11:

  • The oil spill is now 129 miles from the city of Pensacola.
  • Based on the latest projection from NOAA, Escambia County is not anticipating any direct oil impact in the next 48 hours
  • Escambia County beaches remain clear and beautiful.
  • Please continue to support our beach and waterfront businesses and restaurants.
  • Tarballs have been reported in Dauphin Island, Alabama though none have washed ashore in Escambia County, Florida. Tarballs are fragments or lumps of oil weathered to a semi-sold or solid consistency, feel sticky, and are difficult to remove from contaminated surfaces. If you observe any evidence of oil on Florida’s coastline, leave the area and report the incident to 1-866-448-5816.

British Petroleum (BP)

  • Currently 5,600 feet of BP’s boom is staged in Pensacola with an additional 10,000 feet of boom on order.
  • A local BP community outreach and claims office has been established for citizens at 435 East Government Street. A local phone number will be posted soon.
  • BP Vessels of Opportunity – see the master vessel charter agreement and vessel requirements checklist online www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.
  • BP claims categories
  • BP is working on the following programs:
  • Shoreline Assessment and Clean Up Plan
  • Pre Impact Debris Removal Program
  • BP officials request residents be wary of scam artists posing as BP contractors. Do not sign any documents in return from money from BP or anyone else until you know the extent of your loss. BP officials carry proper identification badges or business cards.
  • BP does not use contractors to contact or solicit volunteers for cleanup. All training offered by BP is free. There are no fees for classes or registration.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research who is contracted by BP to provide assistance to oiled wildlife. The service recognizes Tri-State’s expertise in wildlife oil spill response, and while many wildlife organizations and individuals have expressed interest in providing assistance, all rehabilitation efforts must be coordinated through the service and Tri-State. Coordination is vitally important for recovery and research efforts, and specific safety and other requirements must be met before anyone will be allowed on-site for any participation. If you already have wildlife training, call BP at 1-866-557-1401.

Federal (NOAA)

  • NOAA modified and expanded the boundaries of the closed fishing area to better reflect the current location of the oil spill, and extended the fishing restriction until May 17. See details.

State of Florida (DEP, FWC)

  • Weather conditions remain favorable. Wind and currents continue to keep the plume away from the Florida coast for at least the next 72 hours according to DEP.
  • DEP Guidelines for Protecting Shoreline from Oil Spill Impacts
  • Homeowners may be able to help prevent oil from reaching private property or damaging sensitive vegetation by utilizing sorbent booms.
  • Booming and alternative absorption measures should be coordinated through Escambia County as incorrect boom placement in navigable waterways can create a serious hazard.
  • Coordination with state and local entities is important to ensure that booming or alternative measures being used do not impede navigation and are not more harmful to the natural environment in the long-run.
  • If a boom is placed by a private citizen, that individual assumes responsibility for the boom, including the chance it could dislodge into the water or be harmful to wildlife.
  • Booms placed by private citizens that become impacted by oil are the responsibility of that individual and require special authorization for removal and proper disposal.
  • Do not place hay bales, sandbags or other unapproved devices along the shoreline, as the overall debris from disposal of such methods would increase and could cause serious long-term damage.
  • Do not attempt to clean impacted beaches or attempt to rescue oiled wildlife. Touching oil is a health risk and disposing of it improperly could cause additional environmental damage.
  • Authorized protective measures should be conducted in a manner that provides protection to, and does not disturb, native vegetation, species and their habitat.
  • Taking or capturing any species, nests or eggs listed as an endangered species is not permitted.
  • For more information on types of protective measures, contact BP’s community information line, 1-866-448-5816.
  • The Florida Small Business Development Center Network is part of the state’s EOC Emergency Support Function as a responder for assistance in business recovery. The Mobile Area Commands are fully self-contained and staffed by SBDC Certified Business Analysts experienced in assisting businesses impacted by disasters, including assistance with federal and state disaster loan programs. MACs have been deployed in Escambia County. SBDC staff are meeting with area business leaders and available to provide technical assistance to local businesses. For more information, please visit www.floridasbdc.org/Special Programs/bcrm.asp
  • The seafood off Florida’s coast in state waters are safe. There are no health alerts at this time.
  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has temporarily suspended the restriction on use of purse seines landward of the COLRGEGS demarcation line in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
  • Affected businesses should file a claim with BP via the hotline number, 800-440-0858. Additional guidance to help small businesses survive a disaster can be found at www.MyFloridaCFO.com or by calling 850-413-3089 or toll-free 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).
  • At this time, there are no indications of health risks to Floridians due to the Deepwater Horizon incident. The Department of Health and DEP are closely monitoring health and environmental impacts to Florida’s beaches and will issue an advisory if conditions become unsafe.
  • The training classes offered through BP are free. If you feel that you have been approached fraudulently, please call the Attorney General’s Office fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226.
  • The state emergency operations center remains at a level 2 activation.

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff

  • There are currently no opportunties for volunteers. As they become available, they will be posted to www.VolunteerFloridaDisaster.org.
  •   CANCELED- The special Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 13 has been canceled.
  •   CANCELED- The Commmittee of the Whole scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 13 been rescheduled to Thurday, May 27 at 9 a.m..
  • On inland waters (bays, bayous, estuaries, rivers), private property owners may install oil absorbent material, booms or fences on private property above the mean high waterline (MHWL) only. No material may be installed or sprayed below the MHWL.
  • On gulf-front property, the use of silt fences, obstructions, hay bales, peat, surfactants or other material is not approved. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is the permitting agency for beaches and coastal systems. No obstructions to sea turtle nesting behavior is allowed.
  • Oil is a hazardous material. It should only be handled by professionals trained in handling hazardous material.
  • Avoid entering areas where oil can be seen or smelled. Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil-contaminated water, sediment and wildlife. Do not swim, ski or fish in areas affected by the oil spill. If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water. Do not eat dead fish, fish with oily residue, or fish that have a petroleum odor. Restrict pets from entering oil-contaminated areas.
  • If citizens see anything unusual on the beaches they feel they need to report:
  • Contact the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce at 850-492-4660 on Perdido Key
  • Report to the lifeguards on duty on Pensacola Beach
  • Deflective boom – large floating barriers that help contain floating oil – has been deployed around sensitive shorelines. .
  • Escambia County is coordinating with the Coast Guard regarding additional potential deployment sites. See boom deployment progress report and map.
  • Escambia County has posted a PowerPoint presentation of Oil Spill Response Strategies at www.escambiadisasterresponse.com.
  • Boom has been deployed in all locations of the Local Action Plan and Addendum One. Staff continues to evaluate areas to determine if more boom is needed and is monitoring all deployed boom.
  • To keep waterways open as long as possible, boom will be “wet staged” at some locations. When floating petroleum becomes an imminent threat, boom will be fully deployed. “Fully deployed boom” is described as boom anchored into a functional configuration.
  • Environmental staff completed collecting sediment, water and oyster tissue samples. Samples have been sent to a lab for analysis. Environmental staff also completed pre-assessments on air quality.
  • Escambia County is evaluating several operational options from contractors for coastal protection and recovery. The county is considering every viable proposal, coordinating with Unified Command and will share information as it is approved.
  • All along gulf-front shoreline beaches are small, basically clear and somewhat “pointy” plankton. The pteropod, also known as the sea butterfly, is a larval snail that is naturally occurring. Although they are fairly sharp and may stick your fingers and hands when picked up or your foot when you step on them, they do not pose a threat to people. They are not washing ashore due to anything oil-related.
  • Residents and business owners with water access on their property should have pre-assessments prepared (photos, video, etc. documenting the current condition of the property).
  • The brown foam seen on the beaches recently is not associated with the oil spill. This is a common natural occurrence, especially in the spring, when fish are spawning and there are hard winds, rain, and wave action.
  • The EOC remains at level 2 activation. This is a minimal activation with only specifically involved agencies. Meetings of all essential local emergency support agencies are held daily.

Local Beaches

  • Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key remain open. The water is clear and air quality is good.
  • SRIA lifeguards continue patrolling beaches for oil from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City of Pensacola

  • The City of Pensacola continues to coordinate with Escambia County officials.

Training Opportunities

  • The second training class for Vessels of Opportunity will be held Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front. This training is for licensed charter boat captains only. More than 100 captains received the training on Friday. For more information, call 281-366-5511. To pick up or deliver your completed packet, go to BP’s Community Outreach office at 435 East Government Street.
  • BP to offer training in conjunction with OSHA and the Coast Guard. Health, Safety and Environmental Training has been a key focus to properly prepare those interested in participating in shoreline clean up. The training is fit-for-purpose based on whether you are a volunteer, contractor or vessel owner. The Post-Emergency Spilled Oil Response Training Modules were prepared by Texas Engineering Extension Service with review and approval provided by BP, OSHA and US Coast Guard personnel.
  • The training is for those registered in the Vessel of Opportunity program or as a contractor who wants to participate in clean up. The non-contaminated beach clean up “volunteers” will receive a basic BP health, safety and environmental orientation which as been endorsed by OSHA and the the Coast Guard.
  • To be included as a volunteer, please contact the BP volunteer hotline at 1-866-448-5816. Your contact information will be gathered and you will contacted when opportunities arise in your area. If you are interested in assisting in shoreline oil spill clean up operations, and you live in one of the coastal states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida), you can request placement in a spill response course by emailing Horizonresponse@pecpremier.com . This course is not a guarantee of employment but provides credentials needed to be hired for spill cleanup work by BP contractors.
  • As the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill response continues to evolve, Escambia County will be transitioning its health and safety training to BP.
  • If you have completed the county’s four-hour training, your contact information will be forwarded to the appropriate organizations. When the need for volunteers arises, you will be contacted. Volunteer opportunities may include tasks such as distributing water to BP-contracted paraprofessionals or assisting with community outreach programs.
  • The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has determined volunteers cannot be used in any situation where they may come in contact with oiled shorelines or oiled wildlife. There are three modified modules being offered with OSHA approval to allow for more intense participation.
  • Level 1 (Basic Health and Safety Training): a volunteer who will never come in contact with spilled oil. This is a condensed version of the original four-hour class.
  • Level 2 (Contractors and Paraprofessionals): those individuals working at a staging site.
  • Level 3 (Wildlife Recovery and Rehabilitation): a person trained in the recovery, rehabilitation and clean-up of wildlife. This is a graded certification course. Individuals must be affiliated with an approved volunteer organization to participate in this six-hour module.
  • OSHA has established guidelines for any individual working in an area where they may be exposed to petroleum-contaminated materials. In accordance with these guidelines, modules one, two and three are required for anyone seeking contract employment with BP as a paraprofessional who may potentially work directly with the spill.
  • Beginning Thursday, May 13, BP will offer all three levels of training.
  • For more information on BP’s volunteer and paraprofessional training schedule, visit their training contractor’s web site: www.pecpremier.com.
  • Escambia County’s final OSHA approved health and safety training courses for Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12 are still open.
  • This is for the health and safety training. This is not training for handling oiled wildlife.

Safety Messages


Wildlife

  • Do not attempt to rescue oiled or injured birds or wildlife. Doing so can cause additional injuries.
  • If oiled, injured or dead wildlife are found, call the Oiled Wildlife Hotline at 1-866-557-1401. Please provide location of where the wildlife was sighted.
  • Remember that May is the hatching season for many birds and reptiles.

Boats

  • Boats should keep a safe distance from the booms. Do not drive boats over booms.
  • Boat owners are urged to dry-dock boats.
  • Do not drive your boat through slicks or sheens.

Beaches and Waterways

  • Citizens should take precautions around waterways to avoid contact with oil substances.
  • Officials are closely monitoring potential public health and environmental concerns.

Personal Safety (if areas are affected by oil)

  • Avoid areas where oil can be seen or smelled. If you see or smell oil, leave immediately.
  • 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 you travel through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor. If you get oil on your 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.
  • 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.
  • Those near Florida’s Gulf Coast may detect an odor because of the oil spill. Some people are more sensitive to these odors and may experience nasal irritation and feelings of nausea. In combination with seasonal allergies, such as sensitivity to pollen or pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, some people may experience more severe symptoms.
  • Individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory illness should contact their health care provider if feeling symptomatic.
  • Report oiled shorelines to 1-866-448-5816.

Business Information

  • BP has established a claim system and toll free number, 1-800-440-0858. This system will allow people to begin the process to recover lost income or recoup damage related expenses.
  • If you are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, there is an additional avenue for assistance available through the Coast Guard once BP has finalized your claim. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process can call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118.
  • More information about what types of damages are eligible for compensation under the Oil Pollution Act as well as guidance on procedures to seek that compensation can be found at www.uscg.mil/npfc.
  • Take detailed records of canceled reservations. It is important that when these cancellations occur, the canceling party is questioned whether the cause is because of the oil spill. If the answer is yes, keep a record of the person’s name and contact information, and also the revenues lost as a result of the cancellation.
  • Businesses, including shops, restaurants, sport fishing charters, watersports rental companies, etc. that may be negatively impacted, are asked to keep detailed profit and loss records should a claim need to be presented.
  • Calculate estimated losses for a six-week period and be able to provide records, sales receipts and documentation to support your claim. One good option is to compare business to a five-year average of revenues between May and June, which can offer insight as to the damages incurred.
  • Make a detailed list of assets, including non-structural, and include appropriate records to support the list. Example: if your hotel or restaurant is within walking distance to the beach and that beach has oil reach its shores, the business’s assets could be damaged even though there is no physical damage to the structure. It is important to record this depreciation.
  • To register as a consultant, contractor, vendor or submit information on alternative response technology, services products or suggestions, call BP at 281-366-5511.

Citizen Information

  • The Citizen Information Center phone remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 850-471-6600.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive