FL02 AVAILABLE Stand-by Gulf Coast Oil Spill (off-shore)
FL03 AVAILABLE Gulf Coast Oil Spill
FL04 AVAILABLE Gulf Coast Oil Spill
FL05 AVAILABLE Gulf Coast Oil Spill
FL06 AVAILABLE Stand-by Gulf Coast Oil Spill (off-shore)
FL07 AVAILABLE Gulf Coast Oil Spill
GRAND ISLE, Louisiana - Those on the front lines of the U.S. Gulf Coast oil spill say they are forced to fight two battles — one against the crude washing into lush wetlands and another against needless bureaucracy.
"My experience has been frustration, too much red tape, no sense of urgency. For the state and the coastal parishes that are directly affected to put forth a plan, you have to kick and scream every step of the way to get it approved," said John Young, council chairman for Jefferson Parish in Louisiana.
Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard shut down 16 vacuum barges that were sucking up crude from Louisiana marshes. The units, which consist of trucks and tanks on barges that suck up thousands of gallons of crude, needed to be checked for stability and if they had life jackets and fire extinguishers.
On Friday, the Coast Guard shut down two more barges, prompting Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser to make an angry call the the White House, which ordered them back into operation, his office said.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has blasted a lack of coordination between federal departments overseeing the fight and state and local officials waging it. "It is frustrating because it doesn't seem like the left hand knows what the right hand is doing," he said recently. "There is no streamlined system here. This is why we keep stressing that we need to see more of a sense of urgency from the Coast Guard, federal officials and BP."
Meanwhile.....
We have put another proposal together for an off-shore barge company. They are interested in placing one of our medical units onto a 80' barge and anchoring it 25 miles off-shore. Of course there are other barges there as well. They are calling it a "floating city". So.... we will be looking for personnel who do not get sea sick. Any maritime experience is crucial. We would be shuttling supplies and crews via boat, with medivacs being done via helicopter. Our barge would include a trailer, a generator.....and a crew. I'll keep ya'll posted.
ps. Toaka says..... "You can have that off-shore stuff.... I know it would way to hard to get a snack out there. I'll wait here."
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