
Louisiana Coast Guard crews are working with local partners to contain an 18,000-gallon oil spill in the Delta National Wildlife Refuge 60 miles southeast of New Orleans. The section of the pipe line that leaked was closed off soon after the Coast Guard was notified of the spill early Tuesday morning.
This part of the delta is very near the mouth of the Mississippi River and home to many species of birds but investigators haven’t found any soiled animals yet.
“Our plan is to reduce the impact on the marsh area and any wildlife,” said Lt. Stephen Nutting from Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Skimming boats have already begun captured 15 barrels of oil, he said, but the slick was 8 miles long as of their last report so their is still plenty of work ahead for the cleanup crews.
Media reports point to a barge in the area that may have caused the leak while driving large posts called spuds into the silt for anchoring. The official Coast Guard investigation of the cause is still ongoing.