|
|
Case: Mosquito Bay,
Louisiana
 |
Date of incident: April 5, 2001.
Location:
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.
Trustees:
Case status: Restoration Planning Phase.
Overview: On
April 5, 2001, a pipeline owned by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Corporation and operated by Williams Field Services Group, Inc.,
discharged natural gas condensate oil into the environment near
Mosquito Bay, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. Between 100,000 and
126,000 gallons of natural gas condensate oil were discharged from
the pipeline. The responsible party and its spill response
contractor initiated containment and cleanup after the discharge.
Physical recovery and a controlled burn were used to remove natural
gas condensate oil from the environment. Salt marsh sediments and
vegetation were potentially affected by natural gas condensate and
the controlled burn. While the U.S. Coast Guard, state and federal
response agencies, and the Responsible Party worked to contain and
clean up the natural gas condensate oil, the state and federal
natural resource trustees initiated a natural resource damage
assessment (NRDA), which is currently underway.
Under the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), Williams was
the Responsible Party (RP) liable for natural resource damages
(i.e., the costs of conducting the natural resource damage
assessment and the restoration costs). Transco has assumed liability
for the discharge and continues to own and operate the pipeline.
Transco has been working cooperatively with the Trustees and is
taking responsibility for the costs of conducting a natural resource
damage assessment and will ultimately be responsible for the cost of
restoration implementation.
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 Transco
during assessment and restoration planning activities. The extent
and severity of contaminantion and its effect on natural resources
and their services will determine the amount and type of restoration
needed to address any associated injuries.
|
|
|
