Hurricane Alex Delays BP Oil Spill Clean-Up Efforts In Gulf Coast http://bit.ly/vGDWcT

Article by George Murphy

Recently upgraded from a Tropical Storm to a Hurricane, Hurricane Alex could really damage the oil spill clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Recent news reports that in the waters off of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, oil-skimmer are being made to return to shore due to winds in excess of 80 mph and twelve-foot waves produced by this category-1 hurricane. Barges designed to protect area wetlands are also being forced ashore, mainly due to the force of the waves.

According to BP's manager of skimming operations, Wayne Herbert, "Everyone is in because of weather, whether it's thunderstorms or [high] seas." In addition he reports that all near shore skimmers were idle off of the Gulf Coast.

Some meteorologists predicted that Hurricane Alex would miss the main oil spill site directly, and so far it mostly has. Yet still the resulting hurricane force winds and giant waves are enough of an interference to cause a major blow to the clean-up efforts. Not only are the ships and barges at bay because of the storm, but controlled burning, offshore booms, and oil dispersant spraying have been suspended as well.

The removal of these ships severely dampen the clean-up efforts of BP, efforts that they are already far behind on. With 60,000 barrels of oil (an estimated 2.5 million gallons) believed to be leaking into the Gulf a day, any disruption to the cleanup efforts just puts BP further behind.

Even more troubling than the stalled clean-up efforts are reports that Hurricane Alex is pushing more oil onto the Gulf coast beaches. A report from a Louisiana Maritime attorney has giant tar balls being dumped on the beaches near Elmer's Island. Another report from a local Louisiana Jones Act attorney speaks of white sand beaches tragically streaked with oil along Alabama's coastline.

Speaking with the Associated Press, Michael Malone, a marine science technician said, "The sad thing is that it's been about three weeks since we had any big oil come in here. With this weather, we lost all the progress we made."

In nearby Mississippi, many residents were hoping they had seen the last of the oil spill. But according to US Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, he is very worried about Mississippi taking a direct hit from both the oil and the storm. "We have seen the oil change direction," Allen said. "It was generally heading east to the panhandle of Florida. Because of wave conditions and current we now see oil start entering Mississippi sound and areas around Chandelier and Breton Sound. We're very concerned about that."

Hurricane Alex also has the potential to negatively affect the plan to cap the oil leak as well. Two contradictory reports have pegged BP finishing construction of two relief wells date by the end of July or early August at the latest; the relief wells are BP's latest plan to ultimately stop the oil leak. Speaking with a Louisiana Jones Act attorney and a respected Louisiana Maritime attorney, they feel that BP's failed efforts to finally cap off the oil leak could be the last straw for many residents, Hurricane Alex or not.