As I was shelling a batch of shrimp for dinner I thought I would update you on the oil spill from my perspective. I manage a $500 Million coastal restoration program in Louisiana - CIAP (Coastal Impact Assistance Program). The program is designated 65% to the state and 35% to 19 coastal parishes (counties). The funds are distributed to mostly Gulf Coast states and California and Alaska, i.e. those states that have oil drilling off the coast. The idea is that the states would share some of the oil royalties to off set some of the coastal problems/issues ( coastal deterioration, canals, oil and gas rights of way, etc) that result from the oil and gas industry. There is $1 Billion nationally to spend over 4 years of which Louisiana gets about 1/2 of that amount. This funding is a drop in the bucket given that the need has been calculated to be about $30 B. It has been calculated that the state is loosing a football field of coast every hour.When I read this it gave life to all the images once again, but gave a graver picture of the economic impact on the region. The government may choose to 'bail out' BP just so they can be held financially accountable for the destruction they have caused for the long term.The state and parish projects are 95% selected and were based on public hearings, input from environmental groups, governments, state, universities, etc. My contract is to manage the entire program and report on each project to the Department of Interior's Office of Mineral Management Service (MMS) and to apply for grants as the projects are selected (that includes writing state grants and assisting parishes in their grants).The oil spill is having an affect on a number of my projects. The largest is a $31M project on East Grand Terre to mine sediment from the bottom of the water about 3 miles away and pipe it to a barrier island to build it up and restore it for wildlife and to serve as a barrier for hurricanes and other weather events. The project is about 1/3 completed and now we have a problem: Contractor is on hold because there is oil and dispersants washing up on shore. Some of the dispersants settle to the bottom of the sea especially in the area where the sediment is being mined. There are other projects that are in design that will have to be re-thought.The only 'positive' news for Louisiana (but not those states to the east -Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) is that the Gulf of Mexico tide is taking the oil more toward the east of the delta of the MS River. Even though that means that there is a good possibility that the majority of parishes in the state will be minimally affected, those affected - Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines will be devastated since those are the parishes that the sensitive marshland and estuaries are located. There is good oyster, shrimp and fishing industry that thrive in those areas.Some other thoughts:BP - are they doing enough? The informed thinking is that they are using the best technology available to them to stop the oil from gushing. They are testing new technology. The ultimate relief will be accomplished when the alternative drill reaches the area in August. There is still a chance the cap that seems to be moderately working could fail - again this is new technology.Who should pay? Easy answer BP. They need to start paying more for clean up operations and revenue loss by fishers (note the politically correct term - no longer fishermen)
Should the government take over the operation? Hell no! They don't have the technology.
The PoliticsWere the marshlands protected soon enough? No but there is no way to put enough boom to stop the oil from reaching land. All of the ideas that have been suggest are very expensive (some with little science and engineering impact) and could not be put in place fast enough to protect the coast.Are there people working on the clean up in Louisiana? yes - thousands including the national guard. At this time there are hundreds of miles of boom laid - boom can only stop but so much of oil - in rough waters, the oil goes over the boom.What should people in Florida, MS and ALA do? They should try and fight the oil at least 10 miles off shore by laying as much boom as possible and have a method to collect the oil that is behind the boom. It is impossible to totally protect the coast at this point.Reaction to ObamaLouisiana is a southern conservative state. Obama is not a favorite - for that matter any one in authority. Lots of racist coded wording in the reaction of the local politicians. He has visited 3 times and met with local folk. There are people on the ground, BP's feet will be kept to the fire - let's hope the company survives so it can pay.The oil spill is just horrible! The pictures of birds and wildlife coated with oil is just appalling. It will be very expensive and will take decades to fully recover. Fishers in this area will be out of business for a long time - lots of those folks that's all they have done for generations. A number of people in that area migrated to the US from the Cape Verde and Canary Islands in the 19th century. There are also large pockets of Black communities in the affected areas that have been around a long time. They depend on fishing, recreation and the oil and gas industry.Just some thoughts...
And lastly, we better not hear about BPs executives getting elaborate bonuses in six months....














