Maryland Holds Roundtable On Potential Impact Of Gulf Oil Leak
Governor convenes panel of experts, local business owners, and environmental scientists at Ocean City bayside restaurant.
Governor Martin O’Malley convened a panel of state officials, environmental scientists, local business owners, and other experts to discuss the possibility of the Gulf oil leak impacting Maryland waters and businesses today.
The group discussed response capacities, available equipment, and clean-up scenarios in the unlikely event that oil does reach Maryland waters. In addition, Governor O’Malley heard from local business owners and watermen on the impact of the Gulf oil leak on their businesses.
Following the roundtable, Governor O’Malley joined officials from the Maryland Department of the Environment to demonstrate the laying of protective boom in the water.
“While the science tells us that any impact along Maryland’s coast is highly unlikely, it’s our obligation to prepare it’s our obligation to prepare for the worst. That includes assessing potential impact on Maryland businesses, watermen, and environment,” said Governor O’Malley. “Our beaches remain open, our seafood is fresh and safe, and our coastal tourism season is in full swing. We encourage everyone – citizens and visitors – to enjoy Maryland’s beaches, seafood and water-based recreational opportunities along our coast.”
The roundtable included an update from the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Natural Resources on the current status of the Gulf oil leak, how Maryland agencies continue to monitor its progress, and the current impacts on migratory fish and wildlife. In addition, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed that seafood from Maryland waters remains unaffected by the Gulf oil leak. Finally, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development provided a briefing on the potential impact to businesses.
Also participating in today’s briefing was Dr. Don Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, who was recently appointed by President Obama to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.
“Even very conservative scientific assessments indicate that there is very little chance for liquid oil from the Gulf blowout reaching Maryland’s shores and the Chesapeake Bay,” said University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science President Dr. Donald F. Boesch. “This disaster does, however, provide impetus for the State to review and tighten existing response plans in preparation for more modest spills that could occur from barges and pipelines.”
The oil spill of April 20 resulting from an explosion on a deep water oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico operated by BP has led to the largest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history. It is currently estimated that up to 60,000 barrels of oil a day are flowing from the ruptured well into the Gulf of Mexico causing damage to the ecosystem and creating financial hardship for thousands of people dependent on the Gulf for their livelihoods. It will take years, according to experts, to remove the oil from marshes and wetlands along the Gulf coast and a will disrupt a way of life thousands have enjoyed for generations.
Today’s panel confirmed that in the unlikely circumstance there are impacts in Maryland waters, it would most likely be in the form of heavily weathered tar balls and possibly emulsified oil. To assess long term impacts, the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment serve as natural resources trustees pursuant to the Oil Pollution Act and would be charged with assessing the damages.
Current impacts from the Gulf oil leak on Maryland include highly migratory finfish species and birds that use the Gulf of Mexico as a nursery area or spend a season in the Gulf. These species will likely experience impacts from the oil now moving into wetlands and beach habitats in the Gulf. In addition, the panel discussed the potential impact of rising seafood prices should the leak continue. Rising prices and consumer anxiety could have a negative impact on Maryland’s seafood industry.
In late May, Governor O’Malley wrote to Secretary Salazar requesting a ban on offshore oil drilling along the mid-Atlantic coast. Recently, Maryland became one of ten states to form an offshore wind consortium, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior.
Also in May, Governor O’Malley convened a similar roundtable exercise in Annapolis, including members of the Governor’s Bay Cabinet, to discuss potential impact of the leak.
Earlier this month Governor O’Malley launched the Coast Smart Website, a single source for available products and services to help local communities address coastal hazard risks, and Maryland’s Coastal Atlas, an online mapping and planning tool that allows Marylanders to explore data for coastal and ocean planning activities, including renewable offshore energy exploration.
“The Gulf Oil spill is a stark reminder that we need the tools and information to protect our ocean resources and the jobs that depend on them, from even the most severe disaster,” said Governor O’Malley. “By having a real understanding of where resources are located and what they provide to us, the Coastal Atlas will help us balance the many commercial and recreational demands they face.”
In addition, Governor Martin O’Malley has joined with other Atlantic Coast Governors and the U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar in signing a Memorandum of Understanding that formally establishes the Atlantic Wind Energy Consortium to promote offshore renewable energy.
Topics: 2010, beaches, BP, British Petroleum, business, coastline, Deepwater Horizon, Economy, emergency response, environment, environmental impact, fisherman, fishing, Florida, GOHSEP, Governance, government, Governor Martin O'Malley, Gulf of Mexico, gulf oil map, loans, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, moniter, monitor, news, Obama Administration, Ocean City, Ocean City bayside restaurant, Oil Rig, oil spill, Panhandle, Pensacola Pass, pollution, President Obama, tourism, Transocean, U.S., United States, White House
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