OIL DISASTER IN THE GULF : DAY 31 OF OIL SLICK AS IT REACHES SHORES...

In Louisiana it is time for the Pelicans to go to their Breeding grounds, but the Oil Slick has now reached the Louisiana's Shores.People on Twitter have been writing to BP begging and nagging them to use HairBooms ( MatterofTrust.org) and Hay and Absorbent Booms. Scientists are worried about the 600 Species at risk in the wetlands, marshes and Gulf. It was hoped that BP would use any and all tactics to absorb the Oil and Stop the Leak. There is too much at stake. In the Photos below today photos were take of the Oil , but also how Some Absorbent Booms laid out might help protect the Coastline.( Today's Post is all about the Oil Slick reaching the Coastlines and Shorelines in Louisiana , yesterday's post is about the Dispersant and Volume Issues, and Health and Wildlife Updates).
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Coastline with NO Absorbent Booms, you can clearly see how damaging the Red Oily Goo is ( BP describes it in the brochure as "Mousse", it looks nothing like mousse, it clearly looks toxic. These three photos are from Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

Oily Red Gooey Blobs have reached the Shores in Louisiana, it's really striking and very visible. On the BP hand outs ( I will include link on bottom of page-BP says that it wants to "verify" the Oil, and that it "might be easily confused with Algae" -yes they said that....) To me , even miles away , it is obvious that the Blobs on this Beach are indeed OIL. Governor Jindal's office of Emergency has a photo slideshow of the damage to marshes and wetlands that is a must see.
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More Booms-some sort of shredded Fiber being used ( I will be following up with the Photographer to ask about the Fibers and absorbent Booms deployed on this shoreline). The Governors Office has been giving updates on the Situation on Twitter, @GOHSEP , they have continued concerns about shortage of boom west of MS river, pushing the @USCG & @BP_America for more Booms and better protection.
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Wed. May 18th, Booms deployed on shoreline-3 Types- Even HAY piles. I am encouraged to see ANY and ALL Absorbent Materials Tested and tried, I would point out by the Brown Pelican nesting grounds and other birds nesting grounds to be really careful and not use Materials that Looks like GOOD bedding for the Pelicans, hopefully the International Bird Rescue and Audubon experts are being dialogued with.
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CBS Evening News had been threatened with Arrest when they tried to film Oil reaching Louisiana's Shores last night, but today they filmed and brought us the story. CBS,Sharyl Atkinson and Katie Couric have continued to investigate and report this unfolding story of the Gulf,covering the Impact on people, the ecosystem and the Fishing Industries.Do watch this Video below as Governor Jindell as he sees the Damaged Shoreline and wetlands.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
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BP Official Bob Dudley speaking on PBS today saying that "Leak will be capped in about a week" .He is saying this as of Day 30,
and we still don't know how much Oil has been spewed into Gulf.

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Must read Article by Bill Finch called "The Slick We Didn't See" asks many of the questions that so many have been asking , especially Scientists as to why BP is not really attempting to STOP the leak-merely slow it ?" and really not examining all that damage that is occurring by the hour.
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Truthout has been doing an amazing job tracking the Oil Disaster as for lack of monitoring, and exploring the dangers with other Rigs. Jason Leopold did an amazing post with a Whistle blower from the Atlantis Rig, and now he has a new post up tonight that raises new concerns about Other Problems with BP that again were not properly investigated by the Bush Administration. "How Bush's DOJ Killed a Criminal Probe BP That Threatened to Net Top Officials." is a MUST READ.
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MORE UPDATES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW:
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Other Updates from this Week
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Kevin Costner has been working on investing in an Innovative Company that is studying Oil Seperation. He is willing to put more money into this research and help the Gulf. Do read this link about his efforts, it would be wise at this point for everyone to be willing to be creative and help the Gulf. I hope that BP, NOAA , EPA and the Coast Guard realize that Disasters of this scope require Transparency and Problemsolving involving the Public.
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Oil Drum has the latest updates on the Siphon process that is worth reading and the Comments are really educational as well. I for one am very confused, if they are gathering one or two thousand barrels a day, but if they are Siphoning and collecting that oil,shouldn't there be easily accessible Data ?
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LA Times has their latest update and it focuses on what the efforts are and how the slick is presenting new challenges.
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Another copy of the Full Letter Senator Markey wrote to EPA Director Lisa Jackson regarding Concerns regarding Dispersants being sprayed on the Gulf.
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As this disaster continues and Fishermen and Coastal People volunteer to assist with the Clean Up I think we need to make sure that their welfare is protected and respected as they volunteer to help with a situation that may indeed be unhealthy. OSHA has printed guidelines that I hope BP is using and honoring.
OSHA fact sheet has ALL the information that people living and working along the Coastline should read as the Slick Grows and fumes and oil has and is reaching shore.
More Revelant Posts re; HairBooms and EPA work etc. See Below:
The Governors Office of Louisanna has Twitter page has updates that are really helpful about staging,damages, organized efforts. Worth checking a few times a day.
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WSJ reported that the TransOcean is trying to limit it's Liability to 27Million.
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BP is still refusing to even TRY HairBooms or HairMats to absorb the Oil Slick ( which astounds me -as they Leak Gushes on with no Relief and they talk about shooting golfballs and tires at it ?) Science Daily explains how the Hair Booms Work. And in spite of BP's stubborness on this issue, Matter of Trust Org is already collecting hair for this cause as they know it has worked on the California Coasts, I encourage you to read their website.
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BBC is asking questions about the Delay in the Disaster Response, asking why was the Response delayed.
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Oil spill video: Times-Picayune reporters give latest updates and coverage.
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Audobon Magazine has update on sealife,
Spill update: Oil might've killed 87 sea turtles, 18 birds, 6 dolphins; oil industry tax hike; leak video.
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Once again Huffington Post has devoted a whole page to this situation. It is to be noted that Think Progress and Truthout and Raw Story and many other blogs have really been tracking Whistleblower concerns, Animal damage and reports from the Gulf States.
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Seafood Resturantes and Suppliers have already started to Sue BP, this has not been reported by Big Media, but local media on the Gulf is starting to Report.
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If you want to help,Volunteer or Donate you can still read more of this post. Thank you for caring for the Gulf.
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Please do scroll down as all the posts below explain about the Volume and the Sat photos explain about the Oil Spill Entering the SE Loop. I will be updating later on Thursday.

GULF OIL DISASTER UPDATE FROM WEEKEND...(Scoll down for more from Weekend)May17th,2010

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Satellite from COSMO-SkyMed satellites image from 5.16.10 shows the spill is growing.... Business Week is carrying Story "Is BP burying it's head in sand regarding Size of Spill ? Looking at these Images-which one can compare to images of just a week ago, one has to ask the same questions. The Post from yesterday down below has some disturbing articles asking hard questions about actual Volumes of Oil being spewed into the Gulf at this point.
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Do compare Sat.Image above to the NASA photo of May4th, and it is clearly showing that the plumes are growing, and that spill has increased in size and proximity to Coastline.

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Yet this is the NOAA 5.18,10 photo-different than the NASA photo-because it show the TAIL of the spill that is headed to the Loop

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Deepwater Horizon: NOAA Projected Oil Spill Trajectory Map for May19 does already line up with this Image from above, which raises questions is the Plume growing faster than we know ? Deep Water Horizon Projection maps that had been posted on Sunday were pulled late Sunday night -so I can not post them.
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When looking at the Images above, it is also good to keep in mind that Hurricane Season is mere weeks away,
and USGS is already creating projection maps trying to track the possible Plume Paths, and landfall. There were new concerns expressed over weekend regarding the Plumes and the Current Projected paths, including concerns for the Florida Coast and the Keys and even the path projected to Atlantic. Geologist from DiscoverNews weigh in about the Huge underwater plume and what it means for the marine life under or near the plume, he also has video posted with story.
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From BBC Monday May 16th,2010 ( You can look at this map and compare it to Sat Image)
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BBC's post on "US not happy with BP's curbing efforts" regarding the Latest siphoning efforts. Sunday Afternoon both HLS and the Dept of Interior raised concerns and questions via Statements. ( We have not heard what those statements have resulted in as to responses from BP).
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Ap video about the Siphon Process from MrWells of BP Sunday Afternoon, there is no actual video/photos of Siphon Process:

Most of the weekend there were various stories regarding the Siphon process, and the reports were varied and confusing.It is unclear how siphoning helps close/cap the actual leak ? By 6PM Sunday BP was reporting to CNN that the Siphon process was "marginally effective" and that the next plan was to do a "MudKill-shooting Drilling Muds at the Spill and then a Junk Shot would be attempted" ( This was read on air by CNN reporter, but there was no presser given by anyone explaining these new alternatives.) I am posting the AP video because it is really all I could find as an official Presser on the BP Strategies from the Weekend. We also were told that More Dispersant had been approved to be used, as of Saturday-but there was never any update as to whether 216,000 more gallons were to be added to the 476,000 gallons already used. ( Multiple people like me are still requesting that the Waters,Necropsies and Sediments be also tested for the Dispersant Products/Ingredients, not just fuel chemicals). This is my post from last week that explains or questions about the Dispersants and their use, and needed testing in /near fragile egosystem. I did write to EPA and BP and ask questions about the heavy metals and cyanide with no response as of yet.
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I spent the weekend researching Technologies trying to better learn if the Junk Shot or the Mud Kill or the Siphon was the best that we could look forward to ? I am also puzzled why Hairbooms or Hay are not being supported for the Coast ? or Why Absorbent Booms or Tankers being used like they were for the Valdez Spill ? I stumbled across this Article questioning the antiquated Strategies being used still today that trace back the Valdez Spill ? After Exxon Valdez, is technology still same? Houston Chronicle: "Decades after Exxon Valdez" .
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Last Night on 60 Minutes they did run a 15 Minute story on the Explosion on the Deepwater Oil Rig and interviewed a Survivor. This story is worth seeing and reading carefully, as it illuminates many safety issues and concerns that we did not know about before. It also explains the Missing Safety info that we are now learning about the Prevention Protections that were not in place. You can see the Segment Here and also read the Related Materials and interviews.During the Segment they also reported about the Safety concerns of another Oil Rig, The Atlantis, many of us know of that story from Jason Leopold of Truthout, and his story is linked to the Piece or you can read Jason Leopold's Whistleblower here to learn more about the Atlantis Situation.
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Today AP reported that the previous Fed Inspection Reports were/are also in Question.
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Nature News Last post from journalist Mark Schrope on board a research vessel studying the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is a must read for anyone wondering what it really looks like in the Gulf right now.
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Latest from NOAA on Sea Life that is being monitored and the efforts put forth ( including Sea Turtles update). Still have not located the Necropsy Reports for the Turtles found dead. ( Not sure who has them if NOAA has them , Fed Fish&Wildlife or BP ?)
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JMCosteau posted Videos from the Field that are very helpful and give a better picture of what is at stake and happening. ( Videos from may 15th and posted to Twitter).
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Think Progress posted more over the weekend about Sea life at risk, including this post regarding Dolphins found dead in the Gulf.
Snipett:
"As ThinkProgress has documented, the BP oil spill off of Louisiana’s coast threatens more than 400 species, with the potential “devastation beyond human comprehension.” Already, brown pelicans, sea turtles, and various types of fish have turned up dead. Now, the National Marine Fisheries Service is reporting that six dolphin carcasses have also been found in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama since May 2".
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If you want to help,Volunteer or Donate you can still read more of this post. Thank you for caring for the Gulf.
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More Updates Later today.....stay posted. ( I will also post about Gulf Aid's Benefit last night to raise funds and awareness.