NEW ORLEANS – The Coast Guard is responding to a crude oil discharge in Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area, Louisiana, Monday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 4:30 p.m. Sunday of crude oil leaking from a storage tank owned by Whitney Oil and Gas.
The maximum potential for the spill is estimated to be 2,520 gallons, but the discharge was contained before all the contents of the tank entered the water.
The remaining crude oil has been drained from the crude oil tank, securing the source of discharge. The Coast Guard and the responsible party are working to determine the actual amount discharged.
Currently, there is three hundred feet of containment boom, one oil skimmer, and two oil spill response boats on scene.
OMI Environmental Solutions has been contracted as the Oil Spill Response Organization to clean up the spill.
There have been no reports of impacts to wildlife at this time.
“The Coast Guard is committed to working alongside federal partners for the duration of the spill,” said Capt. Kristi Luttrell, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans commanding officer. “A main priority is to mitigate potential affects to critical wildlife in the area.”
Involved in the response are:
- Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Incident Management Team
- Whitney Oil and Gas
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
