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Home > Current News > 2006

News: 2006

Marine Debris Project To Be Rescheduled
Posted: 6/23/06

The volunteer-based Marine Debris Marking & Mapping Project on Calcasieu Lake, Moss Lake and West Cove scheduled for Saturday, June 24, has been postponed due to adverse environmental conditions and ongoing clean-up operations surrounding the 70,000 barrel oil and wastewater spill at CITGO’s Indian Marais on-site drainage facility. The event will be rescheduled in July.

“Given the current environmental conditions, with approximately 15,000 barrels contained as of Wednesday, June 21, visible sheen located at the Calcasieu Point Landing, and coupled with the volunteer orientation of this effort—the current risk to boaters was simply too uncertain,” said Louisiana Sea Grant’s Port Specialist Justin Farrell. Closures that affect the project include the Calcasieu Ship Channel and Moss Lake. Additionally, it was uncertain whether additional closures would be forthcoming.

Heavy rainfall in the Lake Charles area earlier in the week caused flooding and problems at CITCO’s waste water storage tank area and secondary containments. The official cause of the spill remains under investigation. In response to on-going recovery and containment efforts on the Calcasieu Ship Channel, the U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO), and the CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex have created a Unified Incident Command. Likewise, CITGO has established the following hotline at (800) 213-5540 and a direct line for claims relating to boat cleaning at (337) 708-7177.

Hurricane Rita scattered residential, industrial and vegetative debris throughout the estuary system, creating a hazard for recreational and commercial boaters, as well as their vessels and gear. In an attempt to make the lake safer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey, Louisiana Sea Grant College Program (Louisiana Sea Grant), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), Lake Charles Power Squadron, LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Lake Charles Pilots continue to move toward marking and mapping as much of the marine debris as possible.

Anyone with information or data on known marine debris locations are asked to contact Tim Osborn, Tim.Osborn@noaa.gov, (337) 291-2111; Justin Farrell, jfarrell@lsu.edu or (225) 578-6348; or Kevin Savoie, KSavoie@agcenter.lsu.edu, (337) 475-8812; or visit www.laseagrant.org/debris. Project updates will also be posted to this site.

This effort is made possible with involvement of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey with the funding and support of NOAA's Marine Debris Program, which is part of the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (National Ocean Service). The NOAA Marine Debris Program works with other NOAA offices and partners to support national, state, local and international efforts to protect and conserve our nation’s natural resources and coastal waterways from the impacts of marine debris.

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