From: Al Coby
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2010 2:19 PM
To: City Council
Cc: Directors Plus
Subject: Oil Spill Update
City Council,
Below is the most recent oil spill information from the Escambia County EOC.
In that the arrival of oil in the area is imminent and BP has ramped up operations on Bayou Chico, City staff is proceeding with City Council’s direction to monitor BP’s operation and develop a methodology to ensure that any impacts to Bayou Chico as a result of BP’s operation are remediated. Specifically:
1)The City Manager and Staff have under taken the process to define a scope of work and identify an Agent for the City to monitor BP operations on Bayou Chico and other areas within the City’s jurisdiction which could be adversely affected. It is my intent to execute a monitoring agreement as quickly as possible under the City Manager’s authority.
2)The City Attorney is consulting with the City’s Legal Advisor for environmental issues with the intent of developing either an ordinance or contract with BP that will provide for either a surety bond or cash deposit that will ensure any inadvertent environmental impacts to Bayou Chico as a result of the BP operation are remediated to the satisfaction of the City.
Further; yesterday, the City Engineer filed with Escambia County a supplemental Shoreline Protection Plan that identified additional areas along the City’s shoreline that warrant protective devices. The Plan formalizes discussions with Escambia County and allows for official consideration by Unified Command.
Al Coby
Operational Information:
* According to the NOAA oil plume model, the primary oil plume is 35 miles from Pensacola.
* No large oil impacts are expected across any portion of the state within the next 72 hours. NOAA forecast trajectories place Escambia County within the uncertainty area by Saturday.
* A forecast of increased winds and seas this week across the northern-central Gulf of Mexico and a 50 to 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms through Friday may hamper surface oil recovery operations. A light to moderate south to southwest wind flow will continue through Thursday and increase Friday through the weekend.
* The oil sheen is approximately seven miles off Escambia County coastlines, is smaller than yesterday and beginning to evaporate. This is an isolated patch of sheen and not connected to the larger plume.
* The tar mats observed Tuesday, June 1, appeared smaller in size today.
* With the spill’s closer proximity and winds from the south, an odor may be detected by residents.
* Attorney General Bill McCullom will be at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 12:30 a.m. Senator Bill Nelson will be at the EOC at 1:30 p.m. and CFO Alex Sink will be at the EOC at 2 p.m. They will be available to the media immediately following briefings.
* The Local Area Plan (LAP) booming continued Wednesday in the Old River and Innerarity Intracoastal areas.
* Reconnaissance flights are being conducted daily, weather permitting, to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact.
* Unified command continues to check, verify the condition and make repairs as needed to currently placed booms. The county will work with Unified Command on any placement of boom within navigable waterways.
* Nineteen teams of 10 crew members have been prepared for beach cleanup. Some teams have been activated for pre-cleanup. The remaining are on standby for activation by Unified Command.
* A daily beach report began Thursday, June 3 with updates on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
* Communications/Monitoring Centers will be set up on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key within the next week. More information to follow.
British Petroleum (BP)
* BP claims in Florida: 5,000, with approximately $3,519,815 paid.
* Sixty-five of 1,151 Florida contracts have been activated for the Vessels of Opportunity program.
* Response vessels in use in Florida: more than 1,900.
* There are reports of a scam involving individuals falsely representing themselves as BP employees and offering applicants training and promising job placement for a fee. BP does not charge to train and hire applicants. If you or someone you know has been charged for training, please contact law enforcement.
Federal (NOAA)
* Wednesday, June 2 – Local fishing areas remain open, however NOAA has again expanded the closed fishing areas in national waters. See details: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and Staff
* The Citizens’ Information Line is open, 471-660, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
* Secondary and tertiary boom staging began Tuesday, June 1.
* The board will vote to extend the local state of emergency at the board meeting on June 3.