BP Oil Spill: Against Gov. Jindal's Wishes, Crude-Sucking Barges Stopped by Coast Guard 59 Days Into Oil Crisis, Gulf Coast Governors Say Feds Are Failing Them
696 comments<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/comments?type=story&id=10946379> *By DAVID MUIR and BRADLEY BLACKBURN* June 17, 2010 Eight days ago, Louisiana <http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/Louisiana> Gov. Bobby Jindal <http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/Bobby-Jindal> ordered barges to begin vacuuming crude oil<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/bp-oil-spill-thick-crude-hits-shore-workers/story?id=10869546> out of his state's oil-soaked waters. Today, against the governor's wishes, those barges sat idle, even as more oil flowed toward the Louisiana shore. Louisiana Governor Jindal frustrated over decision-making red tape. "It's the most frustrating thing," the Republican<http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/U.S.-Republican-Party> governor said today in Buras, La. "Literally, yesterday morning we found out that they were halting all of these barges." *Watch "World News" for David Muir's report from Louisiana tonight.* Sixteen barges sat stationary today, although they were sucking up thousands of gallons of BP's oil as recently as Tuesday<http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/citizens-charge-10924636>. Workers in hazmat suits and gas masks pumped the oil out of the Louisiana waters and into steel tanks. It was a homegrown idea that seemed to be effective at collecting the thick gunk. "These barges work. You've seen them work. You've seen them suck oil out of the water," said Jindal. Related <http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/bp-ceo-tony-hayward-oil-spill-10946517> WATCH: BP CEO: 'No Evidence of Reckless Behavior'<http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/bp-ceo-tony-hayward-oil-spill-10946517> <http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/citizens-charge-10924636> WATCH: Citizens Take Charge<http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/citizens-charge-10924636> <http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/bp-oil-spill-thick-crude-hits-shore-workers/story?id=10869546> BP Spill: Oil Thicker Than Ever on Shore<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/bp-oil-spill-thick-crude-hits-shore-workers/story?id=10869546> Coast Guard Orders Barges to Stop So why stop now? "The Coast Guard came and shut them down," Jindal said. "You got men on the barges in the oil, and they have been told by the Coast Guard, 'Cease and desist. Stop sucking up that oil.'" A Coast Guard representative told ABC News today that it shares the same goal as the governor. "We are all in this together. The enemy is the oil," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lauer. But the Coast Guard ordered the stoppage because of reasons that Jindal found frustrating. The Coast Guard needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board, and then it had trouble contacting the people who built the barges. Louisiana Governor Couldn't Overrule Coast Guard The governor said he didn't have the authority to overrule the Coast Guard's decision, though he said he tried to reach the White House<http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/White-House> to raise his concerns. "They promised us they were going to get it done as quickly as possible," he said. But "every time you talk to someone different at the Coast Guard, you get a different answer." After Jindal strenuously made his case, the barges finally got the go-ahead today to return to the Gulf and get back to work, after more than 24 hours of sitting idle. - 1| - 2<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379&page=2> NEXT ><http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379&page=2> Read 696 Comments and Post Your Own<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/comments?type=story&id=10946379> Next Story: Blagojevich On Trial: 'Give Us the F--ing Money'<http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/blagojevich-trial-give-us-ing-money/story?id=10946767> -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
