MISSISSIPPI OIL SPILL INFORMATION UPDATES

The following updates are from the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security

At 8 a.m. today, the directors and staff of the Mayor’s Office of Homeland Security and the Sewerage & Water Board joined the third conference call of federal, state and local agencies managing the response to a barge incident which occurred yesterday on the Mississippi River. The following are the most recent updates:

• The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) has confirmed the department is still monitoring the air quality from Algiers to the Belle Chase Ferry. LDEQ is categorizing the air quality as “good”.
   
  
• The United States Coast Guard has reported that one of their major concerns is returning the flow of vessel traffic on the river so that commerce can be re-established to the region. They are developing plans and timelines to accomplish this task, but at this time the river is closed to vessel traffic.
   
  
• The City’s independent environmental sampling contractor, Materials Management Group (MMG), has begun water testing for the City of New Orleans. MMG will be sampling for Volatile, Semi-Volatile and Heavy Metals. In 24 hours, test results for Hydrocarbons will be received. This testing is in addition to testing performed by the Sewerage and Water Board.
   
  
• At this time, the independent water sampling is only necessary for the water being distributed in Algiers, on the Westbank of Orleans Parish. The water supply on the Eastbank was not affected by the incident.

Contact:
Matt Kalmyer, (504) 799-5465
mkallmyer@cityofno.com
James Ross, (504) 906-9123
jross@mayorofno.com