Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 19, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Message of the day:
A myth is circulating regarding a methane gas bubble that could cause a tsunami, impacting Florida. Tsunamis are unlikely to occur as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. These rumors involve the naturally occurring methane beneath the seafloor in the Macondo Discovery, which is the petroleum reservoir into which the Deepwater Horizon production well was drilled. Scientists and engineers are aware of the physical and chemical behavior of methane in the earth and ocean, as well as during production of petroleum. Science does not support the notion of a methane-induced tsunami resulting from Deepwater Horizon activities. However, while the possibility of an induced tsunami is extremely remote, DEP continues to take all concerns seriously and is consulting with experts in all related scientific fields. View the following DEP fact sheet with more information about methane gas and the Deepwater Horizon incident: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/files/methane_fact_sheet.pdf. … Continue Reading

US Coast Guard Deputy Incident Commander for Florida to Hold Media Briefing on Oil Spill Response Efforts

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Joe Boudrow to discuss oil spill, preparedness and response efforts in Florida

Tallahassee, Fla. – U.S. Coast Guard Commander Joe Boudrow, the Deputy Incident Commander for Florida, will host a media briefing conference call on Monday, July 19, at 11 am, about current oil spill response efforts in the state.

Commander Boudrow will offer an overview of the spill response efforts in Florida to date, provide operational details of the U.S. Coast Guard’s current activities, and highlight any new planned response activity.

This will be the start of regular and ongoing media briefings by Commander Boudrow to discuss the state of the oil spill response in Florida. Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole will also participate in the call.

What: Media briefing by U.S. Coast Guard Commander Joe Boudrow, Deputy Incident Commander for Florida for oil spill response and DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole.

When: Monday, 11 am EST, July 19

Call-in information: 1-866-304-5784

Conference ID: 89095825

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 16, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as health effects and fisheries and seafood updates. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 15, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

Continuing his commitment to recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, Governor Charlie Crist will attend a briefing with U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus tomorrow, Thursday, July 15, 2010

Details for the event are as follows:

Date:   Thursday, July 15, 2010
Time:   12:00 p.m.
Location:       Miami International Airport, Signature Aviation
Address:        5700 NW 36th Street

Miami, FL 33122

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 14, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall.

Landfall Reports and Predictions:
•         Tar balls, tar mats and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida. View the latest reconnaissance reports here.
•         Continued impacts will be possible in Northwest Florida over the next 72 hours.
•         Nearly 90 percent of Florida’s more than 1,260 miles of coastline remains unimpacted.
•         If oil is sighted on Florida’s coastline report it to the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335) or by dialing #DEP from most cell phones.
•         Pensacola Pass as well as Perdido Pass will continue to be closed with the tide to reduce the amount of oil entering inland waters. These waterways are manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic and are open for vessel traffic during low tide. See NOAA tide predictions. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 13, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall.

Landfall Reports and Predictions:
•        Tar balls, tar mats and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida. View the latest reconnaissance reports here.
•        Continued impacts will be possible in Northwest Florida over the next 72 hours.
•        Nearly 90 percent of Florida’s more than 1,260 miles of coastline remains unimpacted.
•        If oil is sighted on Florida’s coastline report it to the State Warning Point at 1-877-2-SAVE-FL (1-877-272-8335) or by dialing #DEP from most cell phones.
•        Pensacola Pass as well as Perdido Pass will continue to be closed with the tide to reduce the amount of oil entering inland waters. These waterways are manned to allow access to necessary vessel traffic and are open for vessel traffic during low tide. See NOAA tide predictions.
•        Observations by NOAA continue to indicate no significant amounts of oil moving toward the Loop Current. The Loop Current Ring, a circular current which was formerly part of the Loop Current provides no clear path for oil to enter the Florida Straits.
•        There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon oil spill-related products reaching the shore beyond the Northwest Florida region. There is no indication that the rest of the state will have impacts from weathered oil products within the next 72 hours. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 12, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

LETTER TO GOV. CRIST — Rep. Dwayne Taylor Calls On BP to Finance Cost of Special Session

Representative Dwayne L Taylor (D-Daytona Beach) on Wednesday sent the attached letter concerning a potential special session of the Florida Legislature to Governor Charlie Crist.

In the letter, Representative Taylor suggests that state authorities call on BP to finance any public expenses related to conducting a special session. … Continue Reading

Memorandum-Attorney General Sends Letter Expressing Concerns about Feinberg’s Congressional Testimony

MEMORANDUM

Date: July 2, 2010
From: Ryan Wiggins, Attorney General’s Deputy Communications Director
To: Members of the media
Re: Attorney General Sends Letter Expressing Concerns About Feinberg’s
Congressional Testimony

Members of the Media:

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today sent a letter to Kenneth
Feinberg, the Administrator of claims against BP’s $20 billion escrow fund
, advising of his strong disagreement with Mr. Feinberg’s Congressional
testimony earlier this week. In his letter, the Attorney General also
relayed his concerns regarding Mr. Feinberg’s apparent interpretation of
Florida law.

In his letter, the Attorney General notes that it is the federal Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) that should guide the claims process. OPA
clearly sets forth that the rights of claimants to seek damages are
freestanding of any state law. Further, the Attorney General asserts that
even if state law did apply, Mr. Feinberg was misinterpreting the law and
referencing a law that would not pertain to this issue. … Continue Reading

Bronson Urges Citizens to Avoid Oil Spill Scams

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today advised consumers to be on the lookout for any scams arising out of the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

While Bronson’s Consumer Services Division has yet to receive any complaints or uncover any fraud involving the oil spill, analysts and investigators with the agency are working closely with the Federal Trade Commission and other states to thwart any problems that may occur.

Still, based on previous experiences in dealing with major events like the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Gulf War and major hurricanes, Bronson said it is likely that scam artists are now or soon will be at work to profit from the oil spill. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response July 1, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

Governor Charlie Crist’s Letter to Doug Suttles

DATE: June 30, 2010

TO: Interested Media

FROM: Sterling Ivey, Governor’s Press Secretary

RE: Governor Charlie Crist’s Letter to Doug Suttles

Please find attached Governor Charlie Crist’s letter to Doug Suttles, Chief Operating Officer for Exploration & Production for BP America Inc. To assist business owners and families in counties affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Governor Crist has requested an additional $50 million for the second round of a tourism marketing and advertising campaign.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call Governor Crist’s press office at (850) 488-5394. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response June 30, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

Governor Crist Announces BP Funding for Innovative Technology Solutions for Protecting Panhandle Against Oil Impacts

– $500,000 will be used for two innovative solutions to protect Okaloosa County’s most fragile natural resources from oil impacts -

PENSACOLA – Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, today announced $500,000 in funding from BP for two innovative technology solutions for Okaloosa County. The funding will support two projects that have yet to be tried in protecting Florida from oil spill impacts.

“We must try every solution we can to confront the oil spill and its impacts to the Gulf of Mexico and our shores,” said Governor Crist. “I appreciate BP and the United States Coast Guard’s support for these technologies. We will continue to exhaust every tool to ensure the best possible outcome for Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life.” … Continue Reading

Allen Boyd for Congress: Relief for victims of the BP oil spill

Like many of you, I have been hard at work doing everything I can to protect our beaches and coastal communities from the environmental and economic impact of the BP oil spill disaster.  Right now, this is the greatest issue facing our Gulf Coast.

This week, I introduced legislation that would create a tax exemption for BP claims checks so that victims of the oil spill can fully recoup the damages they’ve experienced without having to pay unnecessary fees. It’s simply the right thing to do. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response June 25, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response June 24, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading

Governor Crist Joins Ocean Experts, Coast Guard in Pensacola to Assess Gulf Recovery Cleanup Progress

~Meets with Philippe Cousteau, joins Coast Guard Commander for aerial and shoreline inspection ~

PENSACOLA – Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, today joined oceanography experts in Pensacola for an aerial and shoreline tour of the oil spill. The Governor’s visit included a meeting with Philippe Cousteau, a leading environmental advocate, and Dennis Takahashai-Kelso, who was the Alaska Commissioner of Environmental Conservation at the time of the Exxon Valdez spill. … Continue Reading

Florida Deepwater Horizon Response June 23, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Under the leadership of Governor Charlie Crist, the State Emergency Response Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are actively coordinating and responding to the Deepwater Horizon incident.

The following is a summary of state and BP response actions to date, as well as tips for residents and visitors to take precautions both pre and post-landfall. … Continue Reading