County Prepares for Oil Spill Clean-up

Posted on: Apr 28th, 2010 | Announcements

Mobile County leaders and environmental groups are preparing for a possible coastal clean-up from an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While the U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a burn today to minimize the damage, oil could wash up on Alabama shores in a matter of days. ?Obviously this could severely impact the seafood and tourism industries,? said Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean. ?We need to be ready to act.? Mobile County officials are contacting counterparts in neighboring states as the spill could impact the coastlines of Mississippi and Florida. Ronnie Adair, Mobile County Emergency Management Agency Director says a unified command for the three states would likely be set up in Mobile. Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine says strong relationships have been forged with leaders and agencies in neighboring states through regional efforts to land the Air Force refueling tanker contract. ?Whether it?s economic development, a natural disaster like a hurricane, or a man-made disaster like this, we are ready to help one another,? said Nodine. Three Mobile County environmental groups are seeking potential clean-up volunteers. ?We don?t know yet what the extent of the clean-up might be at this point,? said Alabama Coastal Foundation Director Bethany Kraft. ?It could be anything from picking up tar balls on the beach to tending to damaged birds.? The ACF, Mobile BayKeeper, and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program are asking volunteers to call or email with their contact information so if the spill impacts the Alabama coast they can quickly mobilize workers (see below). Mobile County Commission President Merceria Ludgood praised the groups? proactive measures. ?Working with these organizations, our EMA and other groups, I know that the people of Mobile County will be ready to preserve our pristine coastline.? Alabama Coastal Foundation: www.joinacf.org 251-990-6002 Mobile BayKeeper: www.mobilebaykeeper.org 251-433-4229 Mobile Bay NEP: www.mobilebaynep.com 251-431-6409