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Case: Mendicant Island,
Louisiana
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Date of incident: December 2, 2003.
Location:
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
Trustees:
Case status:
Restoration Planning Phase.
Overview: On December 2, 2003, the state and federal natural resource
trustees were notified of an unauthorized discharge of crude oil from a
subsurface pipeline located in the Barataria estuary. An estimated 16,800
gallons of crude oil were released into West Champagne Bay in the vicinity of
Mendicant Island, approximately 4 miles north of Grand Isle, Louisiana,
Jefferson Parish. The pipeline is owned and operated by ExxonMobil Pipeline
Company (EMPCo), the Responsible Party. While the U.S. Coast Guard, state and
federal response agencies, and EMPCo worked to contain and clean up the oil,
the state and federal natural resource trustees initiated a natural resource
damage assessment (NRDA) and collected information during the preassessment
phase. Based on information collected during response and preassessment
activities, the Trustees determined that injuries to salt marsh and birds
potentially occurred as a result of the incident. The Trustees elected to enter
into restoration planning in order to develop restoration alternatives that
will restore, replace, rehabilitate, or acquire the equivalent of natural
resources injured and/or natural resource services lost as a result of this
incident.
NOAA has a long history of addressing contaminants in Louisiana, and restoration options are
available. NOAA is working cooperatively with the federal and state natural
resource co-trustees and EMPCo during assessment and restoration planning
activities. The extent and severity of contamination and its effect on natural
resources and their services will determine the amount and type of restoration
needed to address any associated injuries.
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