Oil is Approaching the Shores of Grand Isle
May 05, 2010
Jefferson Parish formally requested British Petroleum (BP) and the Coast Guard to begin moving deflective booms, skimmers and manpower to Grand Isle immediately to protect the state's only inhabited barrier island and the very fragile Barataria Bay estuary. An oil slick was spotted today approximately seven miles off the coast of Southwest Pass, which is only about 50 miles from Grand Isle.
Parish Emergency Management officials are concerned about the slow response to the initial deployment of boom to Plaquemines and St. Bernard and need to assure the people of Barataria and Grand Isle that assets are in theater to protect their island and livelihood.
"We cannot afford to wait for the slick to get on top of us before we have the tools necessary to battle this problem. Jefferson Parish is prepared to hire its own contractors if BP does not act quickly," said Deano Bonano, Jefferson Parish Chief Administrative Assistant for Homeland Security.
