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Barge CTCO-211

Evening Report, 1800 CDT, 01JULY98

This report covers 6/30 - 7/1


Vessel situation:

The salvage crane barge was due to arrive on scene the morning of 6/30 but was delayed
until 1600 due to extremely heavy fog on the river that morning.  Salvage personnel worked
last night until dark and continued this morning on rigging the CTCO #211 for
stabilization and eventual lifting.  The rigging was completed at 1300 this afternoon
(7/1).  The next step is for the crane to take a strain on the barge (it's too heavy to
lift) and then hold it steady while the product is off loaded.  Eventually enough product
will be removed so that the barge can be lifted high enough so that all cracks in the hull
are above the waterline, then she can be refloated.  It is expected that this operation
will be complete by the COB tomorrow.  A residual oil release continues but is being
immediately contained and skimmed within the first line of boom (multiple lines of boom
now surround the accident site.)  There are 216,000 gallons (5857 barrels) of oil left on
board the #211.


Mass Balance:

The majority of oil has been accounted for.  The official estimate of product lost has
been upgraded to 80,000 gallons (1904 barrels.)  Environmental factors influencing the
mass balance include natural evaporation and dispersion.  The product is a Mississippi
blend light crude with an API of 41.0 and 44% volatiles.  With a light product such as
this and the favorable environmental conditions (temps in the mid 90's, 5-10 knot winds)
evaporation is at least 40% and by now could be as high as  50%.


Dissolution of the product into the water column has also occurred.  The swift and
tumultuous currents and numerous eddies of the river in conjunction with it's heavy
sediment load have combined to scavenge and naturally disperse as much as 10-20% of the
oil.  The reappearance of scavenged oil or the possibility of tar ball formation is
extremely low.  To date no water intakes have reported detecting any oil.


Environmental Sensitivity:

Areas of the river immediately downstream of the spill are either industrial installations
or vegetated river scarps and banks.  The nearest sensitive area is the bird the Bonnet
Carre Spillway where there are large assemblages of birds.  The spillway is approximately
50 miles down river from the spill site.  USF&W has conducted an inspection and census of
the spillway area and plans are in place to protect this area should a catastrophic
release take place during the lightering operations.


Draft Results of the USF&W Spillway Survey:
Common Name		Scientific Name			Number Observed
American bittern		Botaurus lentiginosus				  1
Anhinga			Anhinga anhinga					  1
Black-crowned night heronNycticorax nycticorax			 	  	  1
Black-necked stilt		Himantopus mexicanus				21
Boat-tailed grackle		Cassidix mexicanus major				  9
Cormorant			Phalacrocorax spp.					  2
Great blue heron		Ardea herodias					21
Great egret			Casmerodius albus					16
Green-backed heron		Butorides striatus				  	  2
Louisiana heron		Hydranassa tricolor					  3
Mottled duck			Anas fulvigula						20
Passerine neo-tropical migrants[unidentified to species level]			78
Red-winged black bird	Agelaius phoeniceus					12
Sandpipers (various spp.)	[unidentified to species level]			10
Snowy egret			Egretta thula						59
Terns (various spp.)		Sterna spp.						13
White ibis			Eudocimus albus					  1
White pelican			Pelecanus erythrorhynchos				  1
										
TOTAL										271

A white pelican was also observed the day before (06/29/98) in the same location in an
aerial overflight.

Fish activity was abundant in the flooded areas and may have been the reason for the bird
concentrations.

Two recreational users were observed on east end of survey area.
-------------------------------

Shoreline Cleanup:

The cleanup continues to go well and there has only been moderate to minimal impacts on
some portions of the river.  Cleanup of these areas continues to go very well.  The
Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinators Office (LOSCO), Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality (LADEQ), NOAA SSC, USCG and Clean-up Contractors conducted a shoreline survey of
some of the most heavily impacted areas yesterday afternoon.  Some concentrations of oil
were identified in sloughs draining the vatcher (the vatcher is the area between the
riverbank and the inside of the levee).  There was also some oiling to vegetation along
the bank.  Concerned was raised over the potential for oiling wildlife from these areas
(birds frequent the riverbank and the the vatcher.)   The cleanup contractors were
instructed to remove the smaller oiled debris from the sloughs and then use skimming,
sorbents and finally freshwater flushing to remove oil trapped in the slough.  It was
agreed that the oiled vegetation along the bank would be cut to the water level.  There is
not a lot of oil vegetation to be cut and it is early enough in the growing season that
the vegetation will replenish itself easily.


Another factor contributing to the shoreline cleanup has been the river rise.  The river
has risen approximately 0.4' since the oil was spilled.  The natural scouring action of
the flowing water and it's sediment load has helped to clean and flush some impacted
areas.


Natural Resource Trustee inspection:

A Natural Resource Trustee inspection of the spill site and some of the impacted shoreline
will take place tomorrow (7/2) morning at 0900.  Trustees will have the opportunity to
view any area of concern.  In attendance will be the following representatives:


RP		2
USCG		2
LOSCO		1
LADEQ		2
LAF&W	2
LADNR		1
USF&W	1
NOAA		2

On scene:

Todd Bridgeman
Paulene Roberts (returning to scene 7/2)


CP #'s:
504-473-2814
504-473-1593
504-473-4585
504-473-5720

504-473-8183 FAX