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Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,World Maritime News on January 10, 2011
PORT SULPHUR, La. — During a tour of a Louisiana marsh area that remains fouled by oil 8 1/2 months after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Federal and Louisiana officials got into an argument Friday, Jan 7, over the cleanup of Louisiana marshes.
A media boat tour taken by State and Plaquemines Parish officials Barataria Bay, pointed out an area where oil continues to eat away at marshes and protective boom is either absent or has been gobbled up by the oil. The heavily saturated area that reporters saw was 30 feet to 100 feet wide in sections. No cleanup workers were there when reporters toured the area.
“This is the biggest cover-up in the history of America,” Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser told reporters, gesturing with his gloved right hand, which was covered in oil.
Nungesser was accompanied by Robert Barham, the secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
As the two were answering questions from reporters, representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration interrupted to point out that a plan is being developed to clean up the marshes. They also insisted that the government has not abandoned the Gulf, nor has it lost sight of the fact that BP is a responsible party.
“Clearly there is oil here in the marsh but we are working as a team to find a best way to clean it up,” said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lauer. “It’s a high priority.”
The two sides then got into a heated argument, with Nungesser using profanity.
“It’s like you’re in bed with BP,” Nungesser told the Coast Guard and NOAA officials.
Lauer responded that he understands the frustration, but vowed that the cleanup would continue. “No one has ever said, ‘it’s over, we’re going home,'” he said.
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