A federal official says the leading edge of a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reach the Mississippi River delta by Thursday night.
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration spokesman Charles Henry says as of this morning, part of the slick is about 3 miles from the Louisiana shore.
(Scroll down to view a map of approximate locations where the oil spill has spread and where it is expected to spread Thursday)
Officials say they will do everything they can to not disrupt river traffic.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced that BP PLC has agreed to allow local fishermen to assist in the expected cleanup. Under the agreement, shrimpers and fishermen could be contracted by BP to help.
Jindal's declaration says at least 10 wildlife management areas and refuges in his state and neighboring Mississippi are in the oil plume's path. It also notes that billions of dollars have been invested in coastal restoration projects that may be at risk.
BP operated the rig that exploded and sank 50 miles offshore last week and is directing the cleanup and trying to stop the leak from a blown-out underwater well.
BP PLC chief operating officer Doug Suttles says the company is hoping to try the unusual technique of using chemicals to break up the oil under water.
The company has been reviewing research on the technique which has been used before, but never at these depths. The well is almost a mile underwater.
Suttles says the company is bringing the chemical to the site of massive spill and already has a giant reel of tubing in place. If approved, work could start Thursday night.
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry called it "a novel, absolutely novel idea."
The Obama administration pledged an all-out response Thursday to the massive oil spill, dispatching top officials to the region to help coordinate defenses against the potential environmental disaster.
"We are being very aggressive and we are prepared for the worst case," Coast Guard Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara said at the White House.
President Obama, speaking at an event for the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, said he had been receiving frequent briefings on the situation and that he is prepared to use the resources of the Department of Defense if necessary to deal with the oil spill.
Suttles said at a news conference on Thursday that the company has asked the Department of Defense if they can help with better underwater equipment than is available commercially. The company has specifically asked for imaging techniques and remote operating vehicles, he said.
Mr. Obama said SWAT teams were being dispatched to the Gulf to investigate oil rigs and said his administration is now working to determine the cause of the disaster.
The president promised to deploy "every single available resource" to the area and ordered his disaster and environmental leaders to go. The Navy is sending 66,000 feet of inflatable boom and seven skimming systems, and using its bases in the region as staging areas for the operation.
Federal officials announced inspections would begin immediately of all oil rigs in the Gulf and subpoena powers would be used in the gathering investigation. But the priority was to support the oil company BP PLC in employing booms, skimmers, chemical dispersants and controlled burns to fight the oil surging from the seabed.
Umm... 'scuze me?
SWAT is for breakin-stuff and rapid-force subjugation. Not for forensic examination of A-OK floating oil rigs. When have you ever heard of SWAT doing an investigation?
Furthermore... were I a company operating a perfectly 100% floating and functioning oil rig in international water, and Obama sent LAPD or some other local SWAT (or even FBI or another domestic federal agency) to my facility, I'd tell 'em to GTFO right-quick.
I can't see a legitimate use of SWAT on a law abiding and floating oil rig other than intimidation of the oil industry, or a staging operation for a nationalization of oil rigs.
ETA: Forgot to link source.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/29/national/main6444311.shtml
