Oil spill causes Louisiana Wildlife Refuge to close

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced yesterday May 7, the closure of Breton National Wildlife Refuge to public entry. The closure covers all of Breton NWR, which includes the Chandeleur Islands chain (Chandeleur, Grand Gossier, Curlew, New Harbor Island, North Islands, Free Mason).

Wildlife officials cited the closure as necessary to keep the public safe, to minimize disturbance to nesting colonial sea birds, and to allow personnel conducting cleanup operations and recovery efforts to work safely and efficiently.

The first shoreline impact of oil from spill was confirmed late Wednesday afternoon at Breton, with oil on both sides of the southern half of the Chandeleur Islands. Over flight information, indicated sheen and emulsified oil were observed around the islands.

Service personnel and oil response teams have been deployed to conduct and manage cleanup operations. Recoverable oil will be removed, affected areas cleaned and protection efforts continued.

Wildlife officials have stated that they will release additional information when cleanup operations are completed and the refuge reopened.

For more information on the closure, contact the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Louisiana Refuges at (985) 882-2000.