Oil Spill Response Launched Near Bird’s Foot of Mississippi Delta

On Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard initiated a response to a spill near an oil production site in the Bird’s Foot of the Mississippi Delta.

The spill is in close proximity to the Garden Island Bay Production Facility, a marshland well collection point near Pass a Loutre. Operator Spectrum OpCo LLC, along with the Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office (LOSCO), have established a unified command to address the mixed oil and gas release. A LOSCO overflight confirmed the spill, and immediate responders are present to manage the situation, including the deployment of at least one containment boom.

The operating company has enlisted the services of three firms – Forefront Emergency Management, Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services, and Clean Gulf Associates – to assist in the spill response efforts.

Courtesy USCG

While the volume of the spill has not yet been determined, daily overflight assessments are being conducted. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or wildlife impacts, and the affected area is situated well outside of the Mississippi’s main shipping channel.

The Pass a Loutre area serves as the endpoint of the Mississippi Flyway bird migration route, a crucial travel corridor for numerous American bird species. In an adjacent wildlife management area to the south, both state and federal governments have invested significant resources in marshland and habitat restoration to support migratory birds.