Gulf Oil Spill and Public Lands
NEEF and the Gulf Oil Spill | Background on the Spill | Federal Government Response | Resources and Educational Tools
National Environmental Education Foundation Contributes to One School’s Gulf Recovery Efforts
When staff members at the National Environmental Education Foundation learned about the efforts of a school in Louisiana located near the areas most affected by the Gulf oil spill to help those leading the cleanup, they wanted to find a way to help.
Morgan County High School in Houma, La. borders many of the bayous and estuaries most affected by the spill. Already home to innovative environmental education efforts, Principal Mickey P. Fabre III offered school space and resources to hazmat trainers to help clean the massive spill, including on the land and water close to homes of the students, staff and their families.
But that incurs some extra expenses to keep the school doors open longer and the school’s resources available to the trainers. NEEF offered financial support to the school, a contribution that will assist the school in keeping its facilities and equipment available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, contractors and local fishermen being trained in hazardous material cleanup.
“As a community, we wanted to do our part to help the environment by working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during their training efforts,” Fabre wrote. “Little did we know that our partnership would lead to this tremendous blessing.”
“We’re honored to be able to assist the efforts at Morgan County High School,” said Diane Wood, NEEF president. “Principal Fabre and his staff are already undertaking some wonderful environmental education efforts. Opening their doors for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for these essential trainings exemplifies the generous spirit of this school, its staff and its students.”
In addition to the training, Fabre said the school will use the oil spill and recovery efforts as a teachable moment integrating lessons about the event and its impact in lesson plans through the next school year.
Background on the Deepwater Horizon Incident
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank after it had caught fire. This accident, which occurred 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana, cracked a pipe that carried oil to the ocean floor. Since then, efforts to permanently stop the leak have been unsuccessful as an estimated 12,000 to 25,000 barrels of oil per day are released into the Gulf of Mexico. One barrel of oil provides about 19 gallons of auto gasoline. (US Energy Information Administration).
Where does the spilled oil go?
Oil rises from the ocean floor to the surface of the water and floats on top, forming oil slicks. These slicks can cover hundreds of miles and coat everything they touch with a sticky film of oil. Oil has washed onto at least 70 miles of Louisiana’s shoreline. Other states preparing for their coastlines for impact include parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. These regions are home to fragile aquatic ecosystems, such as wetlands, salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass beds.
 |
| An oil spill clean-up crew member removes oil from a beach in Port Fourchon, LA. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley. |
How can the oil impact America’s public lands?
Oil has touched or is encroaching upon the shorelines of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Public lands at risk include 36 National Wildlife Refuges, 10 National Park Lands and 5 National Estuarine Research Reserves along with many other state and local lands. Many wildlife species that inhabit these coastal areas are put at risk by the oil spill, such as dolphins, four types of threatened or endangered seas turtles, crabs, shrimp, various types of fish and many bird species like brown pelicans, which were just removed from the endangered species list in November 2009.
A US Fish and Wildlife Service report reveals how oil affects the ecosystem. Floating oil can seep into plankton. Fish ingest oil after feeding off the plankton. Larger animals, such as pelicans, become contaminated with oil after consuming the affected fish. Birds are also endangered by oil that sits atop the water’s surface. The substance coats the animals, which can reduce their ability to fly, dive for food or float. Oil can also compromise bird’s ability to repel water, which can cause hypothermia. Click here for additional details from the US Fish and Wildlife Service report about oil’s effects on species and habitats.
Federal Government Response
Below are more resources with information about federal government response to the incident.
National Estuarine Research Reserves System
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- (NOAA)Topics on the Deepwater Horizon incident relay latest developments, factsheets, images/videos and maps forecasting the spill’s trajectory.
NOAA’s Office of External Affairs- An additional website dedicated to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
US Department of the Interior- Latest updates on how the department is responding to the oil spill.
US Environmental Protection Agency- Includes information on the air quality, water quality and sediment in the spill area. Also contains facts about the dispersants used to clean-up the oil.
US Fish and Wildlife Service- Highlights how agency officials have responded to the spill and the impacts on wildlife. Also includes: data of wildlife collected daily in the impact area, maps and multimedia with images of the Gulf region.
US National Park Service- Contains information such as the status of parks affected by the spill, natural resources at risk and possible health risk due to the spill.
White House Blog- Read President Obama’s updates on the oil spill.
Resources and Educational Tools
Educators/Kids
Earth Gauge-A program of the National Environmental Education Foundation, Earth Gauge has complied a wealth of information about the Deepwater Horizon spill
including visuals, lessons plans, fact sheets and much more.
- New July fact sheets include: Effects on Invertebrates and Gulf Hypoxia – The ‘Dead Zone’.
- Earth Gauge Kids contains facts about the Gulf of Mexico and tips/tools about the area.
Interactive Tools
How big is the oil spill compared to my region?- Uses Google Earth technology to compare the size of the oil spill with any state/city/country.
How can ocean currents carry the oil spill?- A detailed computer model relaying what route currants can take the oil spill from University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
New York Times Oil Spill Resources
A running list of sites and resources devoted to measuring the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, from the New York Times
- Interactive maps showing where oil is in the Gulf, where oil has made landfall, efforts to stop the leak and effects on wildlife.
- View live video feeds from various camera angles of the BP Oil Spill from the ocean floor, 5000 feet below the surface. Courtesy of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming website.
- More multimedia and updated news releases are available by clicking here.
How to Help
See the article on the bottom of the our homepage to learn how NPLD is helping the Gulf Recovery Efforts.
Those interested in volunteering in the recovery effort are asked to call (866) 448-5816. Four states have their own web sites for volunteers:
Call to:
- Report oiled/distressed wildlife: (866) 557-1401
- Report community impacts: (866) 448-5816
- Register as a consultant, contractor, or vendor: (281) 366-5511
- Register boats available to assist: (281) 366-5511