Message of the day: Water Quality Sampling
In response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, Florida has conducted and continues to conduct water sampling to establish baseline conditions throughout the state. Establishment of baseline data is critical to the task of documenting the harm caused by contaminants originating from the compromised Deepwater Horizon well. Sampling has also been conducted to define the water quality conditions in close proximity to visible indicators of oil presence, such as such as tar balls, sheen and "mousse."
DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) and the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) collect water and sediment samples for baseline and impact for compounds that indicate the presence of oil. Results from samples can take approximately three to seven days.
The results from these analyses are assessed against human health and environmental benchmark values to assist state, federal and local government agencies to prioritize clean-up efforts and to protect and inform the public. View sampling reports and learn more about Florida’s sampling efforts here.
Current Situation
· The State Emergency Operations Center is activated at Level 1 or full activation.
· The State continues to focus on mitigating impacts to Florida’s shoreline.
· On July 30, Governor Crist announced that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) would reopen coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, at 12:01 a.m. July 31. The FWC closed this area on June 14 as a precautionary measure due to possible impacts of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Learn More
· On July 29, Governor Crist announced BP will provide $7 million to the Northwest Florida Travel Council for tourism marketing and advertising. Expressing appreciation for the grant, Governor Crist promptly sent a letter to BP’s Doug Suttles, requesting another $43 million from BP to complete a second round of a tourism marketing and advertising campaign. On June 30, Governor Crist requested $50 million for this purpose. Learn more.
· On July 29, the State Emergency Response Team, in coordination with U.S. Coast Guard officials and county partners, announced it will begin rightsizing Florida’s response efforts to the Deepwater Horizon incident. Though Florida’s emergency response officials will adjust staffing and resources based on current needs, they will maintain the ability to either increase or further reduce operations as necessary. Learn more.
· Currently Deepwater Horizon is not discharging any oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
· State reconnaissance teams operating by air, land and sea continue to identify potential impacts and are actively coordinating with cleanup teams. View the latest reconnaissance reports.
· Although sporadic sightings of tar balls may continue, Florida’s shoreline is not expected to receive additional impacts over the next 72 hours.
· A tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea has a 0 percent chance of becoming an organized tropical system, while a tropical wave over the far central Atlantic Ocean has a 90 percent chance of becoming a tropical depression or tropical storm within the next 48 hours.
· Oil Impact Notices are posted for all Escambia County and Walton County Gulf beaches, as well as designated beaches in Okaloosa County. Signs may remain in place until local authorities determine that beaches are no longer impacted by the oil spill. Learn more.
Learn More About Florida’s Response:
· Visit www.deepwaterhorizonflorida.
· The Oil Spill Information Line is available at 1-888-337-3569 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. Persons with disabilities can contact 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (voice).
http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments
No comments:
Post a Comment