NEW ORLEANS – Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, the Environmental Protection Agency and PSC Industrial Outsourcing continue to respond to an oil spill near Bayou Teche, Tuesday.
An estimated 12,558 gallons of crude oil escaped containment during a transfer at PSC Industrial Outsourcing.
The crude oil entered Bayou Teche and is headed east towards Charenton.
American Pollution Control Corp. is the contracted oil spill response organization. They have deployed roughly three to four thousand feet of 18" hard boom. Shore to shore hard boom with sorbent boom has been placed on the east and west boundaries of the affected area.
Air monitoring is being conducted at the spill site and a roving patrol is conducting air monitoring in the local community.
Responding to the incident are:
- 54 responders
- A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter and crew
- Six barges
- Six Jon Boats
- Three Marco Skimmers
- Six Drum Skimmers
Watchstanders with Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Morgan City received call, around 6 p.m. on March 28, 2016, from PSC Industrial Outsourcing reporting an unknown amount of crude oil spilled into Bayou Teche. The reporting source stated a tank was being filled with crude oil when the incident occurred.
The Bayou Teche will be closed to all commercial vessel traffic on the Bayou Teche between Jeanerette and Charenton until further notice due to oil spill cleanup operations. No vessel traffic will be allowed to transit the area until further notice. For any questions or concerns contact Vessel Traffic Service Berwick Bay at 985-380-5374.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
For further information, contact Lt. j.g. Lisa Siebert, Public Affairs Officer at Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Morgan City at (727) 735-2332.