Concerns about spilled oil persist this hurricane season

As state officials continue preparing for the ongoing hurricane season, they’re also keeping an eye out for the escaped crude left over from last year’s oil spill. Barry Keim, Louisiana’s official state climatologist, says it’s a unique challenge. “We’re all watching this particular hurricane season,” he says. “We do expect it to be an above-normal season, and you just never know. We were very fortunate last year, given how active it was.” Based on Keim’s research, there’s a 47% chance that a major hurricane could strike the coast, so officials are taking the possibility seriously. Jerome Zeringue of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities says assessment teams are being sent out into the Gulf of Mexico on a regular basis to find out where any lingering oil might be. “There is the potential for more oiling should a storm surge push into the coast,” Zeringue says. “If we find out the oil is from BP’s well, they will be held responsible. There is no timeline here for new oiling.” Of the nearly 5 billion barrels of oil BP spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, it’s estimated that 23% has been dissolved, 17% was captured and 13% was naturally dispersed, according to research conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in California. Another portion was burned, chemically dispersed or skimmed. The assessment leaves 23% of the oil spilled unaccounted for; if it remains in the gulf, it could get a ride ashore this hurricane season. For the rest of 10/12 Corridor Weekly, click here. —Jeremy Alford