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Aug. 10, 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil release update
NOAA reopens federal fishery
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In This Issue
NOAA reopens fishery
New claims officer visits Bay
Pass boom to stay, for now
Vist Bay County Web site
NOAA reopens federal fishery 
 
A National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) official announced at a Panama City Beach press conference today the reopening of 5,144 square miles in the Gulf to finfish fishing.
 
NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco visited Capt. Anderson's Marina to inform commercial and recreational fishermen that the federal waters from Pensacola to Cape San Blas and south into the open Gulf are open, as no oil has been observed in those waters since July 3.
 
Fish caught in the area, she said, have shown no signs of contamination but would be further tested.
 
"Consumer safety is NOAA's primary concern, which is why we developed rigorous safety standards in conjunction with the FDA and the Gulf states to ensure that seafood is safe in the reopened area," Lubchenco said. "We are confident that Gulf fish from this area is safe to eat and pleased that recreational and commercial fisherman can fish these waters again."
 
Since July 3, NOAA data have shown no oil in the area, and U.S. Coast Guard observers flying over the area in the last 30 days have also not observed any oil. Trajectory models show the area is at a low risk for future exposure to oil and, most importantly, fish caught in the area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of contamination. At its closest point, the area to be reopened is about 115 miles northeast of the Deepwater/BP wellhead. 
 
From June 27 through July 20, NOAA sampled 153 finfish, including grouper, snapper, tuna and mahi mahi, from the area. Sensory and chemical testing, with sensory testing finding no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors and results of chemical analysis well below the levels of concern.

"We know how important it is to the culture and economy of this region to get back out on the water and be able to once again harvest the seafood that the Gulf is famous for," said Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs. "But our top priority in the wake of this disaster must be the safety of the fish that makes it to market. We are confident that the proper processes have been followed, and that consumers can feel good once again serving their families seafood from these waters."

NOAA will continue to take samples for testing from the newly re-opened area, and the agency has also implemented dockside sampling to test fish caught throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen. 

U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd said in a news release Tuesday that he has asked Lubchenco to extend red snapper season to allow local fishermen and communities the opportunity to make up for economic losses caused by the BP oil spill.  In the letter, Boyd reiterated the economic contributions the red snapper season brings to the Panhandle:
 
"An extended red snapper season will allow our commercial fisherman the opportunity to get back on the water, and it will help bring recreational fishermen and tourists back to our coastal communities. These visitors charter fishing boats for entertainment, stay at our hotels and eat in our restaurants - activities that collectively help support our local economies.  The hardworking people throughout the Panhandle deserve to have every opportunity available to help them return to their way of life as quickly as possible."
 
The season on red snapper could be reopened if NOAA determines that the quotas for snapper caught have not been met before the season ended on July 24. A decision on whether to extend the snapper season will be made during the Gulf Council's Aug. 16-20 meeting in Pensacola. Click here to read a press release about the possible reopening of snapper season. Federal fishing waters off Bay County have been closed since June 21.
 
The closed area now covers 52,395 miles, or 22 percent of the federal waters in the Gulf, down from 37 percent at its height. On July 22, NOAA reopened 26,388 square miles of Gulf waters off of the Florida Peninsula.
 
  
To sign up for text messages about closures, click here.
 

NOAA reopened some 5,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico to commercial and recreational fishing on Tuesday.

NOAA reopens 5,000 square miles of Gulf fishery
 
New claims officer visits Bay 
 
Kenneth Feinberg, President Barack Obama's appointee to administer some $20 billion in BP funding, visited Bay County today to answer questions about his oversight of the claims process, scheduled to begin Aug. 23.
 
A large crowd gathered at the Florida State University Holley Center to hear Feinberg's take on the new and improved claims process.
 
"My goal is to compensate people who, if they ever went to file a lawsuit, would have heavy, heavy lifting to win a lawsuit against BP," he said.
 
Feinberg said the new claims process will be simpler and faster than it has been. He also said:
 
-- He only has jurisdiction over individual and business claims, government claims are not included in the Gulf Coast Claims Facility's oversight.
 
-- A six-month emergency payment may be made without obligation to sign a release; however, money beyond the six months of emergency payments will be in lump sum if a release is signed precluding further claims against BP. The Gulf Coast Claims Facility will only last for three years.
 
-- Everyone who is eligible and can corroborate payment should apply. Corroborating payment does not require a tax return, though there must be some way to prove what a worker made such as: 1)Tax returns, 2)Profit and loss statements, 3)Checks or check stubs, 4)Dockets.
 
-- Eligible parties include, but are not limited to: Gulf fishermen, shrimpers, oystermen, food processors, hoteliers, business owners, realtors and real estate agents.
 
-- If a claim is submitted, it will not be sent to the government.
 
-- Claims can be filed and corroborated online at the Gulf Coast Claims Facility website, which is forthcoming.
 
In other news:
 
-- Bay County Public Information Office updates will be scaled back to an as-needed basis. For more information about the oil spill, please visit www.baycountyfl.gov or call Public Information Officer Valerie Lovett at (850) 248-8170.
 
-- Bridge loans for oil-spill affected businesses are now available in Bay County through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with the Bay County Economic Development Alliance (EDA). Eligibility requirements, documentation, applications and instructions can be found here. For more information, please call the SBDC at (850) 271-1108.
 
-- Report suspected oil sightings to the local hotline at (850) 248-6030, or call (866) 448-5816. Dial #DEP from a cell phone to report oil. 
 
-- BP's local claims office is located at 7938 Front Beach Road, in the shopping plaza near the Bay Street Deli. BP advises that people filing claims should still call the toll-free number to enter their information into the claims database at (800) 440-0858. BP also has opened a community support office located at 3101 U.S. 98, across the street from Howell Marine and Tackle Supply. At this office, BP can provide information about the oil release and answer community questions.
Pass project boom to remain, for now
 
The rigid boom located in the St. Andrew Bay Pass will remain in place, for now, according to Bay County Emergency Services Chief Mark Bowen. It will be entirely removed eventually.
 
Bay County received a $3.1 million payment toward the project's construction on July 22. Additional BP funding for the project's eventual removal will be sought.
 
The pass project is comprised of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) boom pipe attached to steel pilings on either side of the pass and a 400-foot HDPE boom pipe gate in the center of the waterway.
 
Boaters, kayaks and jetskis in particular, are warned to exercise extreme caution through the now narrower pass. Boaters are also asked to adhere to a 20-meter, or 65-feet, "safety zone" on either side of the boom, as currents there are very strong.   
   
The boom system is comprised of 18 42-inch free-standing steel pilings and another eight pile "dolphins" (each consisting of three pilings attached together with a cap on them) that were driven in the center of the pass. The total of 54 pilings vary in length depending on the depth of the water, and extend at least 10 feet above the mean high tide level. About half their entire length is buried below the bay's floor. The boom is made of 30-inch diameter, two-inch thick HDPE pipe and has a 48-inch long HDPE fabric weighted skirt hanging below the pipe.  
 

The St. Andrew Pass protection plan is completed.

Pass plan
 
Visit Bay County Web site for additional information 
 
To learn more about the Deepwater Horizon oil release and Bay County's response, please view the incident action plan (IAP) posted on the county's Web site by clicking here
 
Click here to visit the Bay County Web site.
 
Click here to view archived E-mail updates.
Sincerely,
 

Bay County Public Information Officer Valerie Lovett
Bay County Board of County Commissioners
(850) 248-8170
Cell: (850) 814-6122