KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 12 May 18, 2010 • 8 AM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Coast Guard Reports Discovery of Tar Balls at State Park: Source Not Identified
Late Monday night, officials at U.S. Coast Guard Key West Sector distributed a news release regarding the discovery of 20 tar balls found earlier in the day by Florida State Park rangers on the beach at Key West’s Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.
While the Coast Guard did not identify the source of the tar balls, several media outlets have already concluded they came from the Transocean/BP spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
The Coast Guard is shipping the tar balls to a laboratory for analysis to determine the actual origin of source, which is not known at this time, according to Captain Pat DeQuattro, the commander of the Key West Sector.
By early Monday evening, Coast Guard pollution investigators completed a subsequent shoreline survey of the Fort Zachary area and no additional tar balls were found.
Later today, officials from the Coast Guard and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are to conduct shoreline surveys to determine if any additional tar balls are present. The Coast Guard is also scheduled to conduct an aerial survey.
We hope to have an update later today, after Coast Guard and Sanctuary officials complete their surveys.
The public is asked to phone in sightings of any tar balls to the Coast Guard at 1-800-424-8802. Tar balls are considered hazardous materials and should only be retrieved by trained personnel, officials said.
Meanwhile, as of late Monday, officials continue to say oil from the northern Gulf spill is not in the Loop Current.
"The oil has not entered the Loop Current at this time," said Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry at a news conference in Robert, La., Monday afternoon. "A leading edge (of the) sheen is getting close to it, but it has not entered the Loop Current."
Notes in NOAA’s oil slick trajectory forecast for Thursday, May 20, point out: “As the winds weaken, ocean models indicate that any tar balls leading the southern edge of the plume could begin moving more to the SW and potentially into the Loop Current.”
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/default.htm • http://www.noaa.gov
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
TDC website with spill-related information for visitors: http://www.fla-keys.com
Showing posts with label florida keys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label florida keys. Show all posts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Officials Dispute Claim of Oil in the Loop Current
KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 10 May 13, 2010 • 4:30 PM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Officials Dispute Claim of Oil in the Loop Current
Federal and local officials are disputing a Thursday report on a Keys radio station that oil has entered the Loop Current.
This morning on WWUS/U.S. 1 Radio, Dr. Mitch Roffer, publisher of Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, told News Director Bill Becker “a filament of oil is entering the Loop Current.”
He went on to say that the oil was headed to the Keys and should arrive there in two to three weeks.
Sean Morton, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analysis shows the oil north of the Loop Current.
Irene Toner, director of Monroe County Emergency Management, said her sources at the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management said early Thursday afternoon the oil was 80 miles north of the Loop Current.
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Officials Dispute Claim of Oil in the Loop Current
Federal and local officials are disputing a Thursday report on a Keys radio station that oil has entered the Loop Current.
This morning on WWUS/U.S. 1 Radio, Dr. Mitch Roffer, publisher of Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, told News Director Bill Becker “a filament of oil is entering the Loop Current.”
He went on to say that the oil was headed to the Keys and should arrive there in two to three weeks.
Sean Morton, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analysis shows the oil north of the Loop Current.
Irene Toner, director of Monroe County Emergency Management, said her sources at the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management said early Thursday afternoon the oil was 80 miles north of the Loop Current.
Distance Between Loop Current and Oil Slick Increases
KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 7 May 10, 2010 • 11:30 AM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Distance Between Loop Current and Oil Slick Increases
Winds in the northern Gulf of Mexico are helping to keep the oil slick, emanating from the Transocean/BP spill, away from the Loop Current as well as other coastal regions of Florida.
According to official estimates, as of Monday morning the southern edge of the slick was projected to be about 100 miles from the northern edge of the Loop Current. Friday afternoon, it was about 40 miles. That distance is likely to increase as National Weather Service forecasters project that winds will blow from the east and southeast for much of the remainder of the week in the northern Gulf.
There are no impacts forecast for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely much longer for the Keys. State officials continue to encourage travel to all of Florida.
On the Sunday edition of CBS's "Face the Nation," Admiral Thad Allen, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard who is in charge of the government’s response said officials at the preset time think there is a low chance of the oil reaching the Loop Current.
“That (Loop Current) is significantly south of the southern edge of the spill right now,” said Allen. “It does not appear to be a threat right now."
Still, until leaks are plugged, officials must continue to closely monitor and plan strategic responses for any possible oil landings in Florida including the Keys.
A giant concrete-and-steel containment box that was lowered at the end of last week developed problems when an icy slush formed inside and thwarted plans to funnel the oil to a surface tanker. According to the Associated Press, BP is now examining several other options to stop leaks including trying a smaller containment box and injecting debris including shredded rubber into the well as a stopper. The challenge with all proposed solutions is that they have never been tried in 5,000 feet of water.
The Monroe County Commission has scheduled a special workshop focusing on any needed preparations for the oil spill for Tuesday, May 11, to begin at 1 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center situated at 10250 Overseas Highway, mile marker 102.5 bayside in Key Largo. The commission is to hear from administrator Roman Gastesi, representatives from Monroe County Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection and NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The meeting is open to the public.
The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area Webcams and more.
TDC social media sites include:
http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Distance Between Loop Current and Oil Slick Increases
Winds in the northern Gulf of Mexico are helping to keep the oil slick, emanating from the Transocean/BP spill, away from the Loop Current as well as other coastal regions of Florida.
According to official estimates, as of Monday morning the southern edge of the slick was projected to be about 100 miles from the northern edge of the Loop Current. Friday afternoon, it was about 40 miles. That distance is likely to increase as National Weather Service forecasters project that winds will blow from the east and southeast for much of the remainder of the week in the northern Gulf.
There are no impacts forecast for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely much longer for the Keys. State officials continue to encourage travel to all of Florida.
On the Sunday edition of CBS's "Face the Nation," Admiral Thad Allen, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard who is in charge of the government’s response said officials at the preset time think there is a low chance of the oil reaching the Loop Current.
“That (Loop Current) is significantly south of the southern edge of the spill right now,” said Allen. “It does not appear to be a threat right now."
Still, until leaks are plugged, officials must continue to closely monitor and plan strategic responses for any possible oil landings in Florida including the Keys.
A giant concrete-and-steel containment box that was lowered at the end of last week developed problems when an icy slush formed inside and thwarted plans to funnel the oil to a surface tanker. According to the Associated Press, BP is now examining several other options to stop leaks including trying a smaller containment box and injecting debris including shredded rubber into the well as a stopper. The challenge with all proposed solutions is that they have never been tried in 5,000 feet of water.
The Monroe County Commission has scheduled a special workshop focusing on any needed preparations for the oil spill for Tuesday, May 11, to begin at 1 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center situated at 10250 Overseas Highway, mile marker 102.5 bayside in Key Largo. The commission is to hear from administrator Roman Gastesi, representatives from Monroe County Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection and NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The meeting is open to the public.
The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area Webcams and more.
TDC social media sites include:
http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys • http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov
Oil Still North of Loop Current
KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 6B May 7, 2010 • 5 PM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Oil Still North of Loop Current
Local, state and federal officials continue to assure that oil from the Transocean/BP spill is positioned well north of the Loop Current and there are no impacts projected for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely longer for the Keys
Significant speculation and rumors continue to permeate various communications’ channels regarding the likelihood of oiling entering the Loop Current and making its way down to the Keys.
The latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast trajectory model for Sunday, May 9, does show the slick pushing slightly to the south in the northern Gulf of Mexico, likely from winds that day forecast to blow from the north until Monday, when a predominantly southeastern flow is projected to return. The southern edge of the slick was positioned about 40 miles north of the Loop Current Friday afternoon, officials said Friday afternoon.
At least one ocean expert, Eric Chassignet, director of the Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University, believes during the next few days the Loop Current will migrate further south, increasing the distance between it and the oil slick. FSU is hosting an Oil Spill Academic Task Force’s website at http://oilspill.fsu.edu compiling resources of Florida's universities with numerous models and information related to projected movements of the oil spill. Chassignet’s animated model is at http://oilspill.fsu.edu/model_output/home.html.
Since there is no expert agreement regarding long-range oil movements, local, state and federal officials continue strategic planning to attack any possible oil landings in Florida including the Keys. Although, a spill of this magnitude has never been foreseen, comprehensive plans are being adapted by officials to fight the spill, if needed. Those plans, which are public documents, are available at:
The U.S. Coast Guard Florida Keys Area Contingency Plan (725-page document)
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ACP/Complete%20Volume%20I.pdf
NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration's Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/70_coral_full_report.pdf
Sensitivity of Coastal Environments and Wildlife to Spilled Oil South Florida Atlas (Dry Tortugas to Boca Raton)
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ESI/SFlorida/LOWRES/S_FL05.PDF
Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported a giant concrete-and-steel containment box was lowered to about 200 feet above one of two remaining leaks. The apparatus is designed to collect as much as 85 percent of the leaking oil and funnel it up to a tanker. The structure, which has never before been deployed in deep water, could be operational by Sunday or Monday, according to the AP.
The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more.
TDC social media sites include:
http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Oil Still North of Loop Current
Local, state and federal officials continue to assure that oil from the Transocean/BP spill is positioned well north of the Loop Current and there are no impacts projected for the next 72 hours to any part of the state of Florida and likely longer for the Keys
Significant speculation and rumors continue to permeate various communications’ channels regarding the likelihood of oiling entering the Loop Current and making its way down to the Keys.
The latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast trajectory model for Sunday, May 9, does show the slick pushing slightly to the south in the northern Gulf of Mexico, likely from winds that day forecast to blow from the north until Monday, when a predominantly southeastern flow is projected to return. The southern edge of the slick was positioned about 40 miles north of the Loop Current Friday afternoon, officials said Friday afternoon.
At least one ocean expert, Eric Chassignet, director of the Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University, believes during the next few days the Loop Current will migrate further south, increasing the distance between it and the oil slick. FSU is hosting an Oil Spill Academic Task Force’s website at http://oilspill.fsu.edu compiling resources of Florida's universities with numerous models and information related to projected movements of the oil spill. Chassignet’s animated model is at http://oilspill.fsu.edu/model_output/home.html.
Since there is no expert agreement regarding long-range oil movements, local, state and federal officials continue strategic planning to attack any possible oil landings in Florida including the Keys. Although, a spill of this magnitude has never been foreseen, comprehensive plans are being adapted by officials to fight the spill, if needed. Those plans, which are public documents, are available at:
The U.S. Coast Guard Florida Keys Area Contingency Plan (725-page document)
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ACP/Complete%20Volume%20I.pdf
NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration's Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/70_coral_full_report.pdf
Sensitivity of Coastal Environments and Wildlife to Spilled Oil South Florida Atlas (Dry Tortugas to Boca Raton)
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/ACP/KWACP/Documents/PDF/ESI/SFlorida/LOWRES/S_FL05.PDF
Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported a giant concrete-and-steel containment box was lowered to about 200 feet above one of two remaining leaks. The apparatus is designed to collect as much as 85 percent of the leaking oil and funnel it up to a tanker. The structure, which has never before been deployed in deep water, could be operational by Sunday or Monday, according to the AP.
The Monroe County tourism council continues to update its http://www.fla-keys.com website with information regarding the spill and its relationship to the Keys. On the website are NOAA forecast tracking maps, a map showing the spill site in relation to the Keys, links to area webcams and more.
TDC social media sites include:
http://www.keysvoices.com • http://twitter.com/thefloridakeys http://www.facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest
Spill-related websites, primarily focusing on affected areas, include:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com • http://www.noaa.gov
Oil Slick Still Positioned North of Loop Current
KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 3
May 3, 2010 • 4:30 PM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
OIL SLICK STILL POSITIONED NORTH OF LOOP CURRENT
Officials with the United States Coast Guard, Monroe County Emergency Management and NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary continue to closely monitor events in the northern Gulf of Mexico related to the BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill.
Current NOAA’s 72-hour trajectory forecasts continue to show the slick remaining north of the Loop Current, a clockwise current that carries water from the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf of Mexico, then back down the Florida coast, past the Dry Tortugas and exiting into the Gulf Stream.
However, several news sources are likely to report later today a University of Miami oceanographer’s prediction that the oil slick will permeate the Keys by this weekend. Sanctuary officials dispute this timing based on current NOAA forecast models. NOAA is the official agency providing scientific forecasting and data for the mitigation effort.
Sanctuary and local U.S. Coast Guard officials continue to advise Keys residents and visitors to seek information from official Web sites including:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
http://www.noaa.gov/
Any other information or projections are speculative, said officials.
Officials said there simply is not enough experience with this kind of event to accurately project when and if the Keys will be impacted and what kind of impacts the area would experience if the oil migrates south.
On Sunday, NOAA issued an order restricting fishing for a minimum of 10 days in federal waters most affected by the oil spill, between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay. No other areas of Florida, including the Keys, are under the order at the current time. There are also no current advisories or restrictions on engaging in other watersports in the Keys or other parts of Florida.
The Coast Guard is meeting with various government stakeholders in Key West Tuesday to custom tailor their oil mitigation plan in the event the slick migrates to the south.
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s staff and agencies staged a conference call earlier today to discuss different scenarios and to plan future strategies.
The Monroe County Commission is planning a special meeting Tuesday, May 11, at 1 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center to discuss the situation.
May 3, 2010 • 4:30 PM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
OIL SLICK STILL POSITIONED NORTH OF LOOP CURRENT
Officials with the United States Coast Guard, Monroe County Emergency Management and NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary continue to closely monitor events in the northern Gulf of Mexico related to the BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil spill.
Current NOAA’s 72-hour trajectory forecasts continue to show the slick remaining north of the Loop Current, a clockwise current that carries water from the Yucatan Channel into the Gulf of Mexico, then back down the Florida coast, past the Dry Tortugas and exiting into the Gulf Stream.
However, several news sources are likely to report later today a University of Miami oceanographer’s prediction that the oil slick will permeate the Keys by this weekend. Sanctuary officials dispute this timing based on current NOAA forecast models. NOAA is the official agency providing scientific forecasting and data for the mitigation effort.
Sanctuary and local U.S. Coast Guard officials continue to advise Keys residents and visitors to seek information from official Web sites including:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
http://www.noaa.gov/
Any other information or projections are speculative, said officials.
Officials said there simply is not enough experience with this kind of event to accurately project when and if the Keys will be impacted and what kind of impacts the area would experience if the oil migrates south.
On Sunday, NOAA issued an order restricting fishing for a minimum of 10 days in federal waters most affected by the oil spill, between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay. No other areas of Florida, including the Keys, are under the order at the current time. There are also no current advisories or restrictions on engaging in other watersports in the Keys or other parts of Florida.
The Coast Guard is meeting with various government stakeholders in Key West Tuesday to custom tailor their oil mitigation plan in the event the slick migrates to the south.
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s staff and agencies staged a conference call earlier today to discuss different scenarios and to plan future strategies.
The Monroe County Commission is planning a special meeting Tuesday, May 11, at 1 p.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center to discuss the situation.
Gulf Oil Spill Generating Media Coverage Regarding Concerns
KEYS TOURISM ADVISORY 1B April 28, 2010 • 11:15 PM EDT
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Media coverage of last week’s BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform explosion and subsequent oil leaks in the Gulf of Mexico continues to focus on efforts to stop the leaks, but now has turned to potential impacts on Florida’s coastal areas and the Florida Keys.
Quoting oceanographers, several news organizations have included in their coverage the potential for oil to move with currents and – depending on the news source – either “possibly” or “likely” affecting the Keys.
However, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday the Keys are not within the projected impact area in their near-term forecast models. And NOAA forecast models, prepared through Friday, (http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/533387/) show the oil slick moving to the north. Officials said some of the oil may reach portions of the Louisiana coast Friday evening. NOAA is the official agency providing scientific forecasting and data for the mitigation effort.
Officials at NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are closely monitoring the situation and assessing resources if a response to an oil threat is required for the Keys.
A controlled burn of a portion of the slick was conducted Wednesday afternoon in an effort to remove a portion of the oil from open waters. Other tactics being employed to remove oil include skimming and the application of chemical dispersants.
Plans are being made to deploy resources to assist in cleanup of Gulf coastal areas likely to be affected.
At a news conference late Wednesday night, officials said a third leak was detected and that BP is employing all resources to plug the leaks. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said that 5,000 barrels a day is now what is estimated to be leaking and said the Department of Defense is poised to become involved in mitigation efforts.
Other planned tactics for leak control include a drilling ship slated to arrive on site Friday that is to begin boring a relief well. Another is the development of a subsea containment chamber to be placed over the leak to collect oil before it floats to the surface. However, it will require two to four weeks for that containment chamber to be fabricated and installed.
Official updated information, assembled by the joint response effort, is available at:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
http://www.noaa.gov
News and Information From the Monroe County Tourist Development Council
Media coverage of last week’s BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil drilling platform explosion and subsequent oil leaks in the Gulf of Mexico continues to focus on efforts to stop the leaks, but now has turned to potential impacts on Florida’s coastal areas and the Florida Keys.
Quoting oceanographers, several news organizations have included in their coverage the potential for oil to move with currents and – depending on the news source – either “possibly” or “likely” affecting the Keys.
However, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday the Keys are not within the projected impact area in their near-term forecast models. And NOAA forecast models, prepared through Friday, (http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/533387/) show the oil slick moving to the north. Officials said some of the oil may reach portions of the Louisiana coast Friday evening. NOAA is the official agency providing scientific forecasting and data for the mitigation effort.
Officials at NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary are closely monitoring the situation and assessing resources if a response to an oil threat is required for the Keys.
A controlled burn of a portion of the slick was conducted Wednesday afternoon in an effort to remove a portion of the oil from open waters. Other tactics being employed to remove oil include skimming and the application of chemical dispersants.
Plans are being made to deploy resources to assist in cleanup of Gulf coastal areas likely to be affected.
At a news conference late Wednesday night, officials said a third leak was detected and that BP is employing all resources to plug the leaks. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said that 5,000 barrels a day is now what is estimated to be leaking and said the Department of Defense is poised to become involved in mitigation efforts.
Other planned tactics for leak control include a drilling ship slated to arrive on site Friday that is to begin boring a relief well. Another is the development of a subsea containment chamber to be placed over the leak to collect oil before it floats to the surface. However, it will require two to four weeks for that containment chamber to be fabricated and installed.
Official updated information, assembled by the joint response effort, is available at:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
http://www.noaa.gov
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