Date: July 2, 2006

Contact: Information Officer
(281) 854-1306

COAST GUARD REDUCES SAFETY ZONE IN CALCASIEU SHIP CHANNEL

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Morning and afternoon over flights continue to show that positive progress is being made in the clean up efforts in the Calcasieu Ship Channel, allowing the Coast Guard to reduce the safety zone.  

The safety zone has been slightly reduced to the entrance to the Bayou D’Inde (light 115) and the southern tip of Cypress Point development, down south at the north side at the intersection of the Calcasieu Ship Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway.  

Clean up crews continued work today in the Calcasieu Ship Channel, with an emphasis on replacing soiled boom and absorbents and strategically repositioning multi-layers of boom.

Shoreline clean up crews were dispatched to clean pockets of heavily oiled shoreline between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Indian Marais.  Small areas of heavy sheen still remain in and near the Indian Marais, in Moss Lake, Clifton Ridge and north of Venco.

Moss Lake remains 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 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.

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

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 17,812 barrels were removed from the Indian Marais, as of this afternoon, which brings the total to 35,525 barrels removed to date.

Response personnel continue to monitor the impact to the environment and wildlife.  Wildlife Rehab and Education personnel, along with Fish and Wildlife Service personnel surveyed Rabbit Island in West Bay and found than none of the thousands of wildlife appeared to have oil on them.  Surveyors also checked the impacted area in the marshes and found no oiled wildlife.

Wildlife Rehab and Education personnel responded to reports of one deceased Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin and two others in distress near the Intracoastal Waterway.

At this time it is unknown if the animal’s conditions are related to the oil spill.  A necropsy will be performed on the deceased dolphin to determine the cause of death.

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.

The cause of the spill remains under investigation.

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