State of the Spill - Week 9

Spill Size/Extent

Size: 68,796,000 gallons (63 days)

Note: Surfrider’s estimate of the spill volume is based on a rate of 26,000 barrels per day. The most recent estimate of the continuing rate of the oil gusher is between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels per day (1,470,000 to 2,520,000 gallons per day). If the release has been at that rate since Day 1, the total volume of oil released is now between and 93 and 159 million gallons.

NOAA’s new GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse online tool provides nearshore and offshore “spill trajectory estimates” for the current oil plume and the next two days. This view shows the current plume, the location of “beached oil” and surface water currents.

State of Efforts to Stop Flow

BP’s “top hat” containment system is believed to be collecting in excess of 15,000 barrels of oil per day, although substantial amounts of oil are still escaping through vent valves on the containment dome. BP has been ordered to step up their efforts to capture more of the oil. Their latest response letter (also discussed here) details plans to collect 40,000-53,000 barrels per day of oil by June 30. On June 16, BP began collecting crude oil from a second containment system that is attached directly with pipes and other equipment to the failed blowout preventer. That equipment had already been installed for the failed “top kill” effort weeks ago. The oil is transferred to a ship, the Q4000, which will then clean and burn the oil and gas mixture in a processing device called an EverGreen burner.

Meanwhile, BP continues to drill two “relief wells” that are intended to intercept the blown-out well at a depth of about 16,000 feet. Drilling mud and cement would then be pumped into the well to seal it. The wells will take at least two more months to drill. Read more.

Ecological Damage

The GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse online tool can be configured to show the confirmed dolphin and sea turtle strandings as well as the fishery closure area.

The Daily Dead Wildlife Tally shows the current number of birds, sea turtles and marine mammals that have been found dead in the oil spill area.

Volunteer Response Resources

Surfrider volunteer oil spill toolkit

Volunteer Phone numbers: (state-specific contact information below)

Deepwater Horizon Incident Volunteer Hotline: 866-448-5816
Vessel of Opportunities Program - Fishermen should phone 425-745-8017

Fact sheets related to oil spills in general and this spill:
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon
http://gulfseagrant.tamu.edu/oilspill/index.htm

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

Official Response Resources

Deepwater Horizon Response
Twitter: http://twitter.com/usnoaagov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov
Podcasts: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast.html
NOAA Roles and Tools:
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/oceans/spills/
EPA: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

Phone numbers:

NOAA media inquiries: keeley.belva@noaa.gov or 301-713-3066
For response inquiries: Joint Information Center (JIC) at 985-902-5231 or 985-902-5240
BP Horizon Response Hotline: 281-366-5511
To report oil, or general Community and Volunteer Information: 866-448-5816
To report oiled or injured wildlife: 866-557-1401

Coast Guard officials say not to pick up any tar balls you find and to report them at (800) 424-8802

Florida Specific Volunteer Information:

Oil spill related clean up:
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
Opportunities will be posted as they become available.

If you live in these areas and want to help:
Okaloosa County call: 850-651-7150 


Bay County call: 763-6587 


Walton County: go to http://www.waltonso.org/

Florida Palm Beach/Treasure Coast area volunteers can email Surfrider's Florida Regional Manager Ericka D'avanzo: edavanzo@surfrider.org

Experts to discuss 'Science of the Spill' at forum, Wednesday, June 23 in Pensacola http://escambia.ifas.ufl.edu/!pdf/OIL%20SPILL%20PUBLIC%20FORUM.pdf

Florida Gulf Recovery Jobs

http://gulfrecoveryjobs.employflorida.com/portals/gulfrecoveryjobs/

Florida DEP is not encouraging private citizens to clean up shorelines. However, should a homeowner have oil soaked materials, there are two options:

• Have the homeowners contact 1-866-448-5816 and someone will be sent out to retrieve the oiled materials.

• Emerald County Utilities Authority (ECUA) will provide several 55 gallon drums at certain walk crossovers on Pensacola Beach. They will be marked for oil debris only. BP/ Waste Management will be responsible for all collection and disposal. ECUA has provided the containers at no charge to help with the response. They will be placed next week.

Florida Information Numbers and Websites:

DEP Related Media Questions: Amy Graham at 850-245-2112 or -2113
Florida Emergency Information Line: 800-342-3557
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) incident response website: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm

Resources in Other Gulf States:

Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
Mississippi:
http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
Alabama: http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx

Also see:
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Galveston Bay Foundation
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources - (228) 374-5000
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Restore America’s Estuaries
Save Our Gulf
National Audubon Society

More Information & Call to Action

Help us track oil spill impacts at: http://oilspill.skytruth.org/

Urge Obama and Congress to ban new drilling:
http://www.surfrider.org/nodrilling

Participate in the Hands Across the Sand event this Saturday June 26th. Over 600 locations in nearly every state and around the world!

State Action Alert for Special Session (FL Only) – Our legislators are holding up Gov. Crist's request for a special session to make oil drilling a 2010 ballet item.

Walk your beaches daily to ensure no garbage or plastic debris is present. Do not disturb bird nesting areas!

Join the Surfrider Foundation: http://www.surfrider.org/join

25,000 barrels of oil a day, 25,000 barrels a day, take 1 down...

Having trouble wrapping your head around 25,000 barrels of oil? Equal to 1,050,000 million gallons. The amount we have been using to estimate the amount of oil gushing into the gulf everyday for the last 62 days! This is a startling and helpful visualization.

Read more...

State of the Spill - Week 8

Spill Size/Extent

Size: 62,244,000 gallons (57 days)

Note: Surfrider’s estimate of the spill volume is based on a rate of 26,000 barrels per day. The most recent estimate of the continuing rate of the oil gusher is between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels per day (1,470,000 to 2,520,000 gallons per day). If the release has been at that rate since Day 1, the total volume of oil released is now between and 84 and 144 million gallons.

NOAA’s new GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse online tool provides nearshore and offshore “spill trajectory estimates” for the current oil plume and the next two days. This view shows the current plume, the location of “beached oil” and surface water currents.

State of Efforts to Stop Flow

BP’s “top hat” containment system is collecting around 15,000 barrels of oil per day, although substantial amounts of oil are still escaping through vent valves on the containment dome. BP has been ordered to step up their efforts to capture more of the oil. Their latest response letter (also discussed here) details plans to collect 40,000-53,000 barrels per day of oil by June 30.

Meanwhile, BP continues to drill two “relief wells” that are intended to intercept the blown-out well at a depth of about 16,000 feet. Drilling mud and cement would then be pumped into the well to seal it. The wells will take at least two more months to drill. Read more.

Ecological Damage

The GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse online tool can be configured to show the confirmed dolphin and sea turtle strandings as well as the fishery closure area.

The Daily Dead Wildlife Tally shows the current number of birds, sea turtles and marine mammals that have been found dead in the oil spill area.

Volunteer Response Resources

Surfrider volunteer oil spill toolkit

Volunteer Phone numbers: (state-specific contact information below)

Deepwater Horizon Incident Volunteer Hotline: 866-448-5816
Vessel of Opportunities Program - Fishermen should phone 425-745-8017

Fact sheets related to oil spills in general and this spill:
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon
http://gulfseagrant.tamu.edu/oilspill/index.htm

Official Response Resources

Deepwater Horizon Response
Twitter: http://twitter.com/usnoaagov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov
Podcasts: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast.html
NOAA Roles and Tools: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/oceans/spills/
EPA: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

Phone numbers:

NOAA media inquiries: keeley.belva@noaa.gov or 301-713-3066
For response inquiries: Joint Information Center (JIC) at 985-902-5231 or 985-902-5240
BP Horizon Response Hotline: 281-366-5511
To report oil, or general Community and Volunteer Information: 866-448-5816
To report oiled or injured wildlife: 866-557-1401

Coast Guard officials say not to pick up any tar balls you find and to report them at
(800) 424-8802

Florida Specific Volunteer Information:

Oil spill related clean up: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
Opportunities will be posted as they become available.

If you live in these areas and want to help:
Okaloosa County call: 850-651-7150 


Bay County call: 763-6587 


Walton County: go to http://www.waltonso.org/

Florida Palm Beach/Treasure Coast area volunteers can email Surfrider's Florida Regional Manager Ericka D'avanzo: edavanzo@surfrider.org

Florida Information Numbers and Websites:

DEP Related Media Questions: Amy Graham at 850-245-2112 or -2113
Florida Emergency Information Line: 800-342-3557
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) incident response website: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm

Resources in Other Gulf States:

Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
Mississippi: http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
Alabama: http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx

Also see:
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Galveston Bay Foundation
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources - (228) 374-5000
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Restore America’s Estuaries
Save Our Gulf
National Audubon Society
More Information & Call to Action

Help us track oil spill impacts at: http://oilspill.skytruth.org/

Urge Obama and Congress to ban new drilling: http://www.surfrider.org/nodrilling

Participate in the Hands Across the Sand nationwide June 26th event.

State Action Alert for Special Session (FL Only) – Our legislators are holding up Gov. Crist's request for a special session to make oil drilling a 2010 ballet item.

Walk your beaches daily to ensure no garbage or plastic debris is present. Do not disturb bird nesting areas!

Join the Surfrider Foundation: http://www.surfrider.org/join

What? It's not 100% safe?!? Oil companies' disaster plans criticized

Why have a disaster plan if your technology is 100% safe?

Apparently, that was the attitude the oil industry who seem to believe that the most important technology needed for a disaster plan is a xerox machine.

You think we are kidding?

At today's congressional hearing, Congressman Markey quipped, the only technology the companies seemed to be relying on in these plans was a Xerox machine.

Read more...

Five things you can do related to the gulf oil spill

Here are five things YOU can do to related to the Gulf oil spill.

Join more than 12,000 others and make your voice heard. 
Tell President Obama and Congress to restore the full moratorium on new offshore drilling in federal waters.

http://www.surfrider.org/nodrilling

Join thousands across America on June 26th as we come together to take a stand. 
On June 26 we are coordinating a nationwide event to oppose new offshore drilling. It's called Hand Across the Sand. It will take place in all coastal states in the United States.

http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

Stay up to speed on spill details on our blog: http://www.nottheanswer.org 
Stay tuned on the latest news, ways to participate in our Not The Answer campaign, and join the conversation about the disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.nottheanswer.org

Tweet! Related, a few relevant Twitter feeds to add to your mix are: @surfrider @envirosurf @bpglobalpr @skytruth @jimmoriarty


@chadenelsen Tweet about oil spill using #oilspill

Volunteer in Florida and Gulf. If you live in the Gulf or Florida regions you can document what you see and find with our Spill Tracker here:

http://oilspill.skytruth.org

or download the iphone app to report impacts here.

If you're in this area and have never connected with a local chapter, now is a great time to do it. Find the local dozen chapters in the Gulf and in Florida: http://www.surfrider.org/chapters.asp




5. Support alternatives. Engage. 

The United States has 3% of the world's oil and uses 20% of the world's oil. We cannot drill our way to national security. We need to find alternatives. 70% of oil is used for transportation. For one thing, we need use less fuel. If you drive a vehicle getting low MPG, think about that choice and what it means. If you can use make a phone call, Skype or video conferencing instead of flying, understand these choices save massive amounts of fuel. If you hear about local, state and national governments looking to invest in alternative energy solutions... pay attention.

http:///www.oceanamps.org

Letter to BP from 3rd Graders

Surfrider received a copy of the following letter from a 3rd grade class at Children's Day School in San Francisco:

Dear Tony Hayward of BP,

We are respectfully asking for an inspection of the Atlantis. We have been following how the Horizon leak has affected the creatures and the people living in and around the Gulf of Mexico.

We know some of the effects of oil in the environment include fish gills getting clogged with oil, and native plants and habitats being destroyed. We learned that birds cannot fly or stay warm with oil on on their wings, and that they will ingest the oil when cleaning themselves and get sick. It may also prevent them being able to hatch their eggs. Oil limits the amount of oxygen available in the water for animals, and may alter the migration paths of animals. Threatened animals may become endangered or extinct.

We know that some of the human impacts include people's eyes and lungs burning. People might leave and businesses would suffer. The oil may contaminate the drinking water. Fishermen are not able to fish or make a living. Communities outside of the gulf are suffering as well.

We respect what your company does but sometimes you need to stop, and make it safe for others. Stopping the pumps will cost money, but another disaster like this may destroy your company. Think of your employees, your customers and people everywhere. What you do affects everyone.

If you don't prevent another leak from happening you are setting yourself up for disaster.

Please consider what we are saying.

Sincerely,

The Blue Jays

Gulf Spill Wildlife Tally

Some of the most compelling images coming out of the Gulf these days are of the various seabirds and other marine life being affected by the spill.

Surfrider has been receiving numerous calls and messages from concerned activist wondering how many of these animals have been save, or died, as a result of the spill.

Here is a link that provides a daily tally of birds and animals lost and saved, based on information provided to the Unified Command Offices of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife services:

http://dailydeadbirds.com/

BP Spills Coffee

Sometimes you just need a good laugh..

Gulf surf shops report on spill impact

Ohana Surf and Skate in Galveston, Texas. Texas stores are faring better than stores in some other states.

With the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill along the Gulf Coast, we wondered how surf retailers in the area were being affected by business, and if the spill has impacted actual surfing along their beaches.

I talked to about a dozen stores around Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana to find out how retailers are coping. Results varied from grim and shocking to somewhat surprising and cautiously optimistic.

Read more...

Making Waves: Special Oil Issue

This special issue of Making Waves includes information on national and regional oil spill issues, including an update on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Read it here (~18.5 MB .pdf)

If you like this issue, you should consider joining the Surfrider Foundation through our special membership offer that includes the t-shirt on the right.

Also, check out our Week 7 State of the Spill update here.

State of the Spill - Week 7

Spill Size/Extent

Size: 54,600,000 gallons (50 days)
Continuing rate of spill: 1,092,000 gallons (26,000 barrels) per day

More details:
http://oilonthebeach.blogspot.com/2010/05/updated-oil-spill-counter-gulf-oil.html
http://blog.skytruth.org/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-new-spill-rate.html

Skytruth reported on June 3: “Oil slicks and sheen spread across a total area of about 11,505 square miles (29,796 km2) on this image, which doesn't extend very far west of the Mississippi Delta, and doesn't cover the approach to Florida Straits where we saw possible indications of oil on May 27.” This same post also mentions “oil apparently making landfall in Alabama on the east side of Mobile Bay, in the Fort Morgan - Gulf Shores area.”

Oil has come ashore on the beaches and marshlands along the coasts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. The beaches along Florida’s panhandle have seen some tar balls and there have also been multiple reports of hydrocarbon odors.

Government and university researchers confirmed yesterday that plumes of dispersed oil were spreading far below the ocean surface from the leaking well, raising fresh concern about the potential impact of the spill on sea life. Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said “The total amount of oil out there is likely very large, and we have yet to understand the full impact of all that hydrocarbon on the gulf ecosystem.”

State of Efforts to Stop Flow

BP’s “top hat” containment system is collecting around 15,000 barrels of oil per day, although substantial amounts of oil are still escaping through vent valves on the containment dome. The Coast Guard has ordered BP to step up their efforts to completely contain the oil being released from the blown-out well. There has been considerable discussion among scientists and in the press regarding underestimating of the spill rate by BP.

Meanwhile, BP continues to drill two “relief wells” that are intended to intercept the blown-out well at a depth of about 16,000 feet. Drilling mud and cement would then be pumped into the well to seal it. The wells will take at least two more months to drill. Read more.

Volunteer Response Resources

Surfrider volunteer oil spill toolkit

Response websites:
http://www.oilspillvolunteers.com/
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
http://tinyurl.com/audubonvolunteer

Volunteer Phone numbers: (state-specific contact information below)
Deepwater Horizon Incident Volunteer Hotline: 866-448-5816
Vessel of Opportunities Program - Fishermen should phone 425-745-8017

Fact sheets related to oil spills in general and this spill:
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doctype/2931/53023/
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon
http://gulfseagrant.tamu.edu/oilspill/index.htm

Official Response Resources

Deepwater Horizon Response
Twitter: http://twitter.com/usnoaagov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov
Podcasts: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast.html
NOAA Roles and Tools: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/oceans/spills/
EPA: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

Phone numbers:
NOAA media inquiries: keeley.belva@noaa.gov or 301-713-3066
For response inquiries: Joint Information Center (JIC) at 985-902-5231 or 985-902-5240
BP Horizon Response Hotline: 281-366-5511
To report oil, or general Community and Volunteer Information: 866-448-5816
To report oiled or injured wildlife: 866-557-1401
Coast Guard officials say not to pick up any tar balls you find and to report them at (800) 424-8802.

Florida Specific Volunteer Information:

Oil spill related clean up: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
Opportunities will be posted as they become available.


If you live in these areas and want to help:
Okaloosa County call: 850-651-7150 


Bay County call: 763-6587 


Walton County: go to http://www.waltonso.org/

Florida Palm Beach/Treasure Coast area volunteers can email Surfrider's Florida Regional Manager Ericka Davanzo: edavanzo@surfrider.org

Florida Information Numbers and Websites:
DEP Related Media Questions: Amy Graham at 850-245-2112 or -2113
Florida Emergency Information Line: 800-342-3557
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) incident response website: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm

Resources in Other Gulf States:

Louisiana: http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
Mississippi: http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
Alabama: http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx

Also see:
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
Galveston Bay Foundation
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources - (228) 374-5000
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Restore America’s Estuaries
Save Our Gulf

Ecological Damage

Louisiana officials have reported sheets of oil soiling wetlands and seeping into marine and bird nurseries, leaving a stain of sticky crude on cane that binds the marshes together.

As of June 9, the official Deepwater Horizon Response website reported a total of 633 collected dead birds (109 visibly oiled), 272 collected dead sea turtles (5 visibly oiled), and 36 collected dead dolphins and other mammals (2 visibly oiled) from the ocean and the shores of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

NOAA’s Fisheries Service Gulf of Mexico commercial and recreational fishing closure area now measures 78,264 square miles, which is approximately 32 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters. Note that the closure area, by definition, does not extend into state waters or beyond the outer federal waters boundary.

More Information & Call to Action

Help us track oil spill impacts at: http://oilspill.skytruth.org/

Urge Obama and Congress to ban new drilling: http://www.surfrider.org/nodrilling

Participate in the Hands Across the Sand Nationwide June 26th event.

State Action Alert for Special Session (FL Only) – Our legislators are holding up Gov. Crist's request for a special session to make oil drilling a 2010 ballet item.

Walk your beaches daily to ensure no garbage or plastic debris is present. Do not disturb bird nesting areas!

Join the Surfrider Foundation: http://www.surfrider.org/join

No New Drilling Act of 2010

Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ) has introduced the No New Drilling Act of 2010 which would prohibit new offshore exploration, development, or production of oil and natural gas. The proposed legislation is currently the ONLY bill in Congress that would ban all new offshore drilling in the United States. Despite the tragic lessons of the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the No New Drilling Act currently has only modest support in the House with a total of four co-sponsors. If you haven’t already, please participate in the Action Alert to ask your representatives to protect our oceans and coasts from drilling! Please also call your Congressman to ask them to co-sponsor the No New Drilling Act of 2010. Calling your congressional representative is the most effective way to have your voice heard on this issue and to help advance this legislation. Thank you for taking action!

Human health effects from gulf oil spill

Crude oil contains a brew of substances dangerous to human health, including chemicals such as benzene that are known to cause cancer in humans, and others that are toxic to the brain and central nervous system, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

“There is overwhelming evidence that many of the compounds found in crude oil are dangerous,” said James Giordano, director of the Center for Neurotechnology Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Arlington, Va.

A lot of the hazard will depend on the degree of exposure — placing cleanup workers, not surprisingly, at the highest risk. Brief contact with crude oil is not considered harmful, but sustained exposure or high enough doses of the chemicals can sicken people rapidly, said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, assistant medical director for the California Poison Control System.

“If you breathe them or ingest them or absorb them through skin they can cause headaches, fatigue, dizziness, even changes in mental status,” Rangan said. “The severity depends on how much you are exposed to. The longer you out there and being exposed, the higher the risk.”

Read more...

If you are considering getting involved with any clean up activities associated with the Gulf oil spill, please read our Oil Spill Volunteer Toolkit first.

The Oil Spill’s Effects on Life Underwater

Spill’s Effects Underwater

Efforts are under way to keep the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from reaching birds, mammals and critical shoreline habitats, but some marine biologists worry about the effects of the oil slick and the use of chemical dispersants on life underwater.

Read more...

A Real Life Horror Movie

In different times this might be funny. Now, it's way too real.