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/...>
*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-wo...> 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-wo...>
BP Spill: Oil Thicker Than Ever on Shore
<http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Media/bp-oil-spill-thick-crude-hits-shore-wo...>
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.
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