MSRC Dispersant Exercise Issue-13Jun2012; Chandeleur Sound, LA

Chandeleur Sound, LA | 2012-Jul-05

Initial Notification: On July 5, 2012 USCG District 8, Sector NOLA and MSU Morgan City called a conference call to discuss an alleged use of actual dispersant during a planned MSRC drill on June 12 & 13, 2012. MSRC aerial dispersant contactor was scheduled to do a test spray using tap water only in a target area 50mi SE of Stennis airport (thier base of operations). Instead, the test sprays were conducted over Chandeleur Sound jsut east of the Miss R. delta, in an area being worked by a fleet of "pogie boats" (small fish netting) with a spotter aircraft directing the pogie boats. During the incident, the spotter aircraft is reported to have taken a set of pictures of the area showing teh water covered by a large area of foam. No exact coordinates or other record of the image time/date/ and location were provided to the USCG. In a news article published 4July2012 on the Times-Picayune web site (NOLA.com), it was alledged that Placquemines Parish was not informed of the drill. Additionally, it is alledged by Parish President Billy Nungesser that real dispersant was being sprayed since fishermen in the area who had observed the spray aircraft said the water was foamy and their skin itched. During the USCG call, which included the NOLA SSC, assistent SSC, and Charlie Henry, the source of the foam in the photos was discussed. The NOAA team's initial estimate of the source of the foam is that it is the result of natural process, including the high winds obvious in the images, and possibly the presence of an algal bloom. The NOAA team is investigating the potential foaming source with scientists familiar with the local and algal blooms. This hotline is being established to capture information for future use.