Date: July 1, 2006

Contact: Information Officer
(281) 854-1306

PRIEN LAKE, ICW OPENS TO RECREATIONAL TRAFFIC, COMMERICAL TRAFFIC TO TRANSIT AT NIGHT

LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Coast Guard has opened the Intracoastal Waterway and Prien Lake to recreational vessels as waterway restrictions around the Calcasieu Ship Channel continue to diminish.

Today in the Calcasieu Ship Channel, six vessels transited safely into the port.  As a result of these successful daytime transits, deep draft vessels and tows will now be premitted to used the channel for nighttime transits.  These movements will be controlled by the temporary Vessel Traffic Service staffed by Coast Guard personnel and industry stakeholders. 

Contingency operational plans have been devised, as well as equipment and temporary dams placed in at risks areas, in the event of heavy rainfall in the area to counter any problems that may arise from such an event.

The Coast Guard continues to have a safety zone on the Calcasieu Ship Channel from light 92, which is just south of the intersection with the Intracoastal Waterway, to light 116, which is just north of the I-210 Bridge.

The safety zone is in place primarily to protect recreational boaters from having their boats damaged or soiled from the remaining oil and hazardous conditions associated with ongoing clean up operations.

Moss Lake will remain closed.  For additional information about waterway safety zones please call the Public Information Desk at 281-854-1306 or 1307.

Individuals engaging in recreational activities on or near the affected waterways should ensure they do not enter areas restricted by the Coast Guard, fish in areas with visible oil sheens or slicks and should avoid direct skin contact with the oil, oil-contaminated water and sediments. 

For more information about the safety of the waterway, please visit the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals press release webpage at http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/news.asp?Detail=891

An estimated 17,713 barrels of oil were removed from the river, and another 17,805 barrels were removed from the Indian Marais, as of this afternoon, which brings the total to 35,518 barrels removed to date.

Overall response information as of today: 

    * More than 1,365 response personnel are working around the clock to safely remove the oil

    * More than 30,000 feet of boom deployed

    * 65 skimmers, 26 vacuum trucks, 20 barges and 159 boats are cleaning the spill 

    * Air monitoring and site safety continues to be conducted by response personnel 

Response personnel continue to monitor the impact to the environment and wildlife.

Any boater who comes across an animal affected by the spill should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-800-213-5540.  Members of the public should not attempt to capture the animal under any circumstances, but try and identify it and report its location.

CITGO has established a toll-free claims number for the incident.  Affected individuals may call 1-800-213-5540 for more information.  A separate number has been established for claims related to exterior boat cleaning.  That number is 337-708-7177.

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