Students attending the LSU AgCenter Marsh Maneuvers get a firsthand look at plastic boom used to contain oil. The students visited the Vermilion Parish command center for the cleanup effort. (Photo by Bruce Schutz) (Click on image to download larger version.)

News Release Distributed 07/30/10

INTRACOASTAL CITY, La. – Students attending this year’s LSU AgCenter Marsh Maneuvers received a rare, behind-the-scenes view of what is involved in the fight against the BP oil spill at the Vermilion Parish Command Center.

Marsh Maneuvers, a week-long camp offered each week in July as part of the 4-H program, is designed to help the 4-H’ers understand the significance of Louisiana’s wetlands to the environment.

Little oil has ended up on the Vermilion Parish shore, but 107 workers have been on standby at the installation here, ready to go into action when oil is spotted.

“We have seen a few tar balls here and there,” said Coast Guard officer Eirik Kellogg, talking with the 14 students from Marsh Maneuvers on July 28.

The center is a combined effort of BP, the Coast Guard, Vermilion Parish officials and American Pollution Control Inc. Twice a day, helicopter flights are made to look for oil.

Kellogg told the students that Tropical Storm Bonnie appears to have helped in the fight against the spill. “Since the storm, a lot of oil has disappeared.”

The students got to sit in on one of several meetings held to keep everyone informed of the latest developments.

Tim Creswell of the Vermilion Parish office of Homeland Security told the students that the task force’s mission is to keep the oil out of Vermilion Bay. “I think so far we beat it.”

Creswell said the number of personnel is being reduced soon, but he said the company efforts to clean up the spill will continue until the job is done. “Nobody can tell you how long that will take.”

Caleb Walker, a 4-H’er from Webster Parish, wanted to know what would happen if someone caught fish that had been contaminated with oil.

Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter fisheries specialist who conducts the Marsh Maneuvers camp, said no trace of hydrocarbons has been found in the testing of 500-600 samples of seafood.

Kellogg said no oiled birds have been found in the Vermilion Parish area, but 2,600 total birds have been recovered.

Members of the task force also told students about careers in the petroleum industry and oil cleanup business.

4-H’er Zachary Earl from Allen Parish, said he was impressed with the effort being made to monitor and control the spill. “They’re doing their best to prevent oil from coming into the marsh,” he said.

Robert Fusilier, a 4-H’er from Evangeline Parish, said the tour was a chance to find out what goes on during a catastrophe.

“I learned a lot more about the oil spill than I have watching it on TV,” Fusilier said.

Shirley said the session with the oil cleanup task force was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to meet participants in a major event affecting the entire state.

“We are grateful to everyone who opened their doors and let the students see what goes on,” Shirley said. “The students are consistently impressed with the effort being made and the vast amount of resources being activated to fight the spill.”

Marsh Maneuvers is held every summer, using Rockefeller Refuge as a base. Students, all from 4-H clubs across the state, get hands-on experience in the wetlands, learning about a variety of topics and activities, from catching crabs to planting marsh grass.