Thursday, September 06, 2012

Hurricane Isaac Dredges Up BP Oil

Beaches closed, fishing restricted in Louisiana

By: @adnroy)
Deepwater Horizon oil spill

Flooding and waves from Hurricane Isaac have washed up oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Tar balls have washed up on sections of shore in Alabama, and Louisiana officials have had to close 13 miles of beach in Fourchon and restrict fishing. Test results released Thursday affirmed that the oil on Elmer’s Island and Grand Isle matched the biological fingerprint of that of BP's Macondo well. Scientists said the oil is "weathered" and therefore less toxic, but that it could still harm small creatures like crabs and bait fish. "We don't like to say it, but hurricanes are Mother Nature's way of taking a bath," Louisiana State University chemist Ed Overton said. BP is reportedly working with the Coast Guard to clean up the Fourchon beach.

Via CBS

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