LPBF's Interim Planning Recommendations
For BP Deepwater Disaster

For over twenty years, LPBF and the residents of the Pontchartrain Basin have made remarkable progress in improving Lake Pontchartrain.    The Pontchartrain Basin's coastal wetlands have not fared so well, due to a legacy of environmental issues.    We are now facing a new challenge and cannot stand idly by.  As always, we strive to work constructively whenever possible.    With the imminent landfall of a large oil spill into the heart of the Pontchartrain estuary, we offer some projections and suggestions for addressing the spill which is a result of the BP Deepwater Disaster.     Many of these plans may be in place, and we hope that the best possible science and engineering is used from whatever source that it may be found.    The approach here considers phases of addressing the oil spill as it moves inland.  (See graphic below)  

Offshore Gulf:

All means must be sought to shut off the free flow of crude oil at the well site.   The best chance for the short-term is the coffer dam to catch the oil at the well site.   The relief well should be started as soon as possible.  It should be recalled that the projected 3-month time to drill the well assumes no disruptions due to a threat from tropical storms or hurricanes.  If the well were on schedule, it would be completed at the peak of hurricane season.   We must prepare for the worst.   Once the oil leaks, it is highly likely that more than 70% will never be recovered.

All environmentally sound approaches should be taken to minimize the volume of the oil spill while in the gulf, such as booms, skimming and in situ burning.

Breton & Chandeleur Sound

Once oil is inside the sounds, the response should include addressing the oiled shoreline and wildlife, but also further containment and skimming of oil.  Booms and skimming should protect the most sensitive habitats such as oyster beds and bird nesting colonies, but also channels (bayous) that may allow oil to move further into the marsh.

A more aggressive effort to collect oil should be taken in the sounds since there will be less wave action and skimming will be more effective in collecting the oil.  It is likely the sound will act as a pathway to move the oil closer to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so the spill volume must be reduced.

Oiled marsh and wildlife must be addressed with sensitivity to plants, soils and wildlife.  This is very challenging, and for that reason we must minimize the initial impact.   In many cases, any short term remediation may not be feasible.

Mississippi Sound

Once oil is within Breton and Chandeleur Sounds, we must anticipate the possible movement further inland.   The spring season tends to have dominantly south or southeasterly winds which will push the oil northward toward the coast.

Mississippi Sound offers an even more protected area for booms and skimming of oil.  This should be an aggressive attack on the spill.  If oil moves into Lake Borgne another large shoreline impact will occur in the heart of the Pontchartrain estuary.

Lake Pontchartrain

If Lake Pontchartrain is threatened by the spill, it would most likely be through the two major passes at Chef and Rigolets. We recommend the protection of these passes by the use of deflection booms or similar strategies.