NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Coast Guard, Amerada Hess, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), and Louisiana State Department of Environmental Quality are responding to an oil release that occurred at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Amerada Hess operated Breton Sound 51 Platform, located approximately 60-miles south east of New Orleans, La.
Approximately 560 gallons of oil had been discovered spilled when employees re-manned the platform following tropical storm Arlene evacuation.
Response agencies took action immediately and are currently conducting recovery operations and air surveillance.
There has been an unconfirmed number of wildlife possibly impacted by the spill including dead and oiled birds and initial assessments indicate some affected shoreline and marsh grass.
All agencies involved are working diligently to minimize the environmental impact of the spill.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Office New Orleans is conducting an investigation into the cause of the release.
More information will be distributed as it becomes available.
