What’s Happening?

            While it may not have been a B.P. Oil Disaster, Mobile Bay has again been affected by oil in our water. If you are anything like me, you wanted the details of the spill immediately. According to AL.com, on Thursday, September 1,2011 in the early morning hours, Gulf Coast Asphalt Company (GCAC) spilled about 275,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the Mobile River. This spill was caused after one of the company’s fuel storage tanks was overfilled and a containment dike valve was left open. The contents of the overfilled tank spilled from the containment dike, into a drainage ditch that flowed into the river. Action was taken as soon as the spill was discovered, with oil boom and containment equipment put in place to capture the oil. It didn’t stop there though, if you were around town this weekend you know that Tropical Storm Lee caused quite a scene in the Mobile Bay area. Intense amounts of rain and wind meant a faster way for the oil to enter and travel further into Mobile River and surrounding wetlands around the Gulf Coast Asphalt Company property. 

            The most recent report is according to GCAC, about 164,112 gallons of oil-water mix have been collected. While I’m glad to hear they have made progress, 164,112 gallons of oil-WATER mixture is still far off from the reported 275,000 gallons of pure heavy fuel oil that was spilled. Like I said before this is far from last summer’s spill in the Gulf of Mexico (over 200 MILLION gallons of oil) but oil is oil. The term “oil and water don’t mix” isn’t some line to describe peoples’ personalities – it is reality. THEY DON’T MIX! To make matters worse the oil that spilled into the Mobile River was “heavy fuel oil”. According to oilandgasglossary.com, this means that the oil does not flow easily and has a high gravity density. That makes it is much easier for this oil to sink rather then just float on the top for easy visibility and cleanup. Also, if the oil sinks it creates a greater risk to damaging underwater ecosystems and wildlife.

Photos provided with permission of ADEM

Who’s in Charge?

            Just out of curiosity I visited the Gulf Coast Asphalt Company website.  I then clicked on one of their tabs that read “Environment”. Ironically, the first bullet on their constant improvement promises read:

“Maintaining environmental permits for the fifty above ground storage tanks, loading/unloading facilities and combustion equipment needed to produce and market our products”(www.gcachouston.com/environment)

I went on to read the rest of the list that included having an emergency response plan for environmental incidents and providing a safe and healthy work environment to their contractors and employees. At the bottom of the page there was a commitment statement from GCAC that read:

"Our commitment shows our determination to meet the challenges of the regulating agencies head-on. We realize our actions will be remembered in the future, and we are committed to improving the environment for everyone." (Www.gcachouston.com/environment)

I found it interesting that clearly and specifically spelled out on their website was a promise to be committed to a clean environment and following the regulations of the agencies who assign them. The spill occurred because a rainwater valve was left open allowing the spilled oil to be released into the surrounding environments. In this section we usually address those who make the rules and how to follow them. In this case, ADEM was the organization that handled the permits for GCAC. Gulf Coast Asphalt Company is definitely the one in charge though. They know what they are supposed to do to make sure things like this don’t happen. While, accidents happen, this was the result of negligence. When you are working with materials that have irreversible impacts if in conjunction with the environment shouldn’t the idea be “we don’t have accidents”?

This is also a situation where we can be the ones in charge. People and citizens of the Mobile Bay area should always be aware of their surroundings, especially living near such a valuable water resource. Recently, Mobile Baykeeper Deputy Director Tammy Herrington posted a blog on how to make a member concern at Mobile Baykeeper. This is a valuable and helpful way for you to make sure our industries in the Mobile Bay area are doing their jobs. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, calling in a member concern is the first step. Mobile Baykeeper has the resources needed to investigate the issues and take action on those that are an environmental threat.

Find out how to make a member concern here: Member Concerns at Mobile Baykeeper

Get to Work!

This week lets get to work by being a little more aware of our surroundings. If something doesn’t look quite right then it most likely isn’t.  Step up and take ownership of problems by reporting them. Call 251-433-4229 (4BAY).

Here is another great idea! As the weather begins to cool down and we get back into the swing of the school year the holidays start to roll in. Our next big holiday is Halloween. For a money saving and eco-friendly Halloween season organize a costume swap with your friends. It is a great way to save money and let those old costumes become new again for someone else.

Peace

Kylie