Florida Outlines BP Gulf Oil Spill Response For June 20, 2010
On Day 62 of the BP Gulf oil spill NOAA reports the oil plume remains 32 miles from Mexico Beach and 230 miles from St. Petersburg.
According to NOAA projections, additional impacts are expected throughout northwest Florida within the next 72 hours due to onshore winds.
The NOAA trajectories indicate a very slow easterly movement of the oil slick and the Florida Panhandle will continue to be threatened by shoreline contacts as far east as Panama City through Monday.
Oil tar balls are washing up on Destin, Ft Walton and Pensacola Beaches.
However, the expected shift in winds will likely begin to push much of the oil plume towards the west-northwest later next week, though oil already near shore will continue to be pushed ashore by tidal currents.
On June 19, approximately 11,050 barrels of oil were collected, 9,990 barrels of oil were flared and 43.4 million cubic feet of natural gas were flared. BP is continuing efforts to drill two relief wells.
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.
Map of BP Oil Spill as of June 20, 2010. Click on images for larger picture.
