Gulf Breeze prepares aggressive backup plan (not counting on BP)

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http://www.pnj.com/article/20100602/NEWS01/6020323/1056/NEWS10/Gulf-Breeze-prepares-aggressive-backup-plan



Gulf Breeze prepares aggressive backup plan


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Gulf Breeze is poised to launch an aggressive battle plan to protect its six miles of coastline if efforts by BP to stop the oil fail, City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy said. That coastline is dotted with sensitive wetlands, fish nurseries, beaches and expensive waterfront homes.

"BP is the first responder," Eddy said. "What we're doing is prevention and protection methods. If BP is overwhelmed, we have a backup plan."

That backup plan includes:

n Protecting shoreline with 6,000 feet of turbidity curtains.
n Sending out volunteer coast watchers to spot and report approaching oil.
n Deploying a team of specially trained firefighters to use a $19,000 oil skimmer the city purchased to scoop up oil.

Hiring an expert

Gulf Breeze also has hired Heather Reed, a marine biologist with her own company, Ecological Consulting Services, to serve on its oil-spill advisory team. She's being paid $100 an hour, up to $5,000 a month.

Reed said her mission is to help the city protect environmentally sensitive areas.

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"The main thing for people to do is watch for oil," he said. "If they see something they don't recognize, if they see tar balls, sheen or oiled birds, call us. If they can watch our coastline, we'll handle it from there."
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good for them. sane, smart thinking.

[nashville_brook]

1. godspeed.

[Mojorabbit]

2. This is what I was looking for

If every coastal town and city pulled together so much could be done. The federal govt should have been leading on this but are not so they ought to just get out of the way and let people do the best they can. I am pissed.

[thereismore]

3. No amount of effort will help if the oil keeps on gushing for months or years.

:cry: