An oil spill from the sinking of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico could wash ashore in the coming days at Gulf Islands National Seashore, according to a forecast from AccuWeather.com.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists predicted the ocean current in the Gulf of Mexico will switch to a southerly direction and could push "oil on the surface of the ocean towards the southeastern U.S. coastline."
Gulf Islands officials were watching the developing situation but had not taken any precautions as of Thursday evening.
“We are monitoring real close, and we’re ready to act if it appears there’s going to be an environmental threat, but there aren’t any indications at this time of any imminent threat," said Chief Ranger Clay Jordon.
The National Park Service was staying in contact with both the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA forecast said "the oil should remain offshore for at least three days; however, inclement weather forecast for 23-25 Apr will impact response and recovery operations."
As of midday Thursday, the Gulf of Mexico current was taking oil from the sunken rig away from land, but meteorologists expect the current to change course as a storm from the Rockies begins to move towards the Mississippi Valley, AccuWeather.com said in a release.
"Surface oil washing upon beaches in Louisiana and Mississippi could be devastating for life along the coast," the company said.
While portions of Gulf Islands National Seashore are nesting grounds for four species of sea turtles, Chief Jordan said the nesting season typically doesn't arrive in earnest until June and July.
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Comments
I totally agree with you...Thanks for letting us all know that we are all responsible...:)
Drilling may be safer than it's ever been, but it isn't safe enough. This same thing that is being touted as extremely rare (a seafloor well spewing uncontrollably) happened in Australia nine months ago. There have been something like 40 blowouts in the Gulf Of Mexico over the last 20 years. Of course the mechanical fail-safe is going to fail sooner or later. And it will fail again.
tsk. what are we doing people! look at us now
I live in mary esther florida, I've lived near the ocean my whole life, from the florida keys to west palm beach... it seems like some kind of propaganda is going on... official sources are saying the water is fine, the truth is it is better hidden being more mixed with the water as it rises 5000 feet... 2 days ago a small pocket of well mix oil and water flowed into the inter coastal... it had a darker tint, and slippery oil like feel it didnt even smell like salt water... I went to a different beach 10 miles away... and it was a entirely different story with clean water.. they can test one beach a hour after a report and it could have moved by then.. it was a small pocket porpoises have died and sea turtles... what did they check for black oil on them... this is a different type of oil spill then before... its better blended in the ocean
That wouldn't be a bad idea for you to do. (1) In 2003, Bush wants to "fast-track" drilling in Alaska and the West Coast and eases regulations in addition to allowing the oil industry to monitor itself. (2) In 2008, he makes a proposal to congress to lift the OCS drilling ban & when they vote his proposal down, he lifts the drilling ban by executive order. The government, a year ago, warned that gas buildup was a concern and BP in its infinite wisdom declared a year ago that gas buildup was likely to pose only a "negligible" risk. Who monitors that risk? BP.
Documents show (a 52-page exploration plan and environmental analysis, conducted by - you guessed it - BP) that it was virtually impossible for an accident to occur. (Gee I wonder a company such as BP would downplay the potential for an accident on their oil rig. Maybe the people GOP which was so enthusiastic about BP monitoring itself can address that question.)
According to workers who are being investigated - other than internally by BP - the rig had intermittent trouble for SEVERAL WEEKS with pocket after pocket of highly flammable gas forcing its way up the pipes and that there were several loudspeaker announcements calling for a halt to "hot work" meaning any smoking or work with welding or use of fire.
n an attempt to move the stalled climate change bill - stalled by Republicans - Obama signaled (which isn't anywhere near an incessant "drill baby drill" mantra) that he would allow drilling 50 miles off Virginia PROVIDED coastlines are protected which would include conducting studies of the mid-atlantic outer continental shelf and determining not only the quantity of potential oil and gas resources but seismic exploration. He also said that drilling off Virginia's coast would be delayed past the proposed 2011 drilling date.
That's hardly the green light Bush gave when he lifted the OCS ban in 2008 by executive order after the majority in Congress in 2008 refused to pass his proposal to lift the ban.
Take responsibility where responsibility should be taken. The campaign platform of "DRILL BABY DRILL" along with the GWBush Administration's lifting the ban and easing regulations which included allowing BP to monitor itself are directly linked to this ecological catastrophe.
We are all guilty, to a certain extent - but it's particularly irresponsible when we ignore causal relationships.
I know there are a lot of Republicans out there who are slow-thinkers and the thought of high speed rail is just too much for them to get their minds around, but isn't it time to at least THINK about railways for freight and commuting without the attempt to consider it getting shouted down by the party of NO?
Editor's note: With all due respect, there are some Democrats who are slow thinkers as well. The GOP doesn't have a monopoly on that.
Well, BP's containment box scheme failed. Big tar balls are now washing up on Alabama beaches, and the oil is spreading east to Florida. The danger to the ecosystem is imminent. All this political bloviating is childish in the face of such a colossal disaster. It's nothing compared to the lickin we're about to get from Mother Earth. And she won't care whose fault it is.