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24 July 2010
WILL THE BOOMS BE GOING BACK IN THE WATER?
WILL THE PRISTINE FORGOTTEN COAST RETURN TO 'BUSINESS AS USUAL'?
As anticipated, much of the protective boom encasing Florida's Forgotten Coast has been removed in anticipation of a breeze from Bonnie. The move was made to keep the floating oil barriers from self destructing and to make sure they can't cause serious environmental damage to the areas that they were suppossed to protect.
Even though no oil has even come close to the Forgotten Coast, the booms were put in place as a "proactive" maneuver "just in case." It is anticipated that Bonnie will push the already leaked oil further to the west and even further away from this region.
That gives rise to a most significant question: will the protective booms be placed back in the bays and Gulf?
There are many who believe it isn't going to happen.
With the well capped; much oil collected; and the Forgotten Coast seemingly out of harms way for the immediate future; it is very possible that authorities will determine there is no need for the bulky boom to be deployed again. That, if it can be removed and deployed in just 48 hours the crews can wait and start deployment if and when the oil this way.
Before the arrival of breezy Bonnie the NOAA predictions called for about a 40% chance of oil hitting our shores. Our guess is the percentage will now drop even lower.
There is also an economic factor.
Someone has to pay the bills and there is little or no chance that "at risk" boom deploying companies are going to be anxious to go out on a financial limb if they don't receive full blessings from the bill payers.
Speaking of economics, for the last three months the Forgotten Coast has been exisitng in a false economy and it will be interesting to watch how things evolve.
Hopefully, things will return to "business as usual."
BP passed out $5,000 checks to area oystermen almost immediately after the spill. Big mistake!
