Note: Questions asked of the Florida Unified Command Center in Tallahassee concerning the City of Apalachicola’s Oil Spill Protection strategy that remains unanswered as of this post.
VIA FACSIMILE
(850) 413-9848
July 21, 2010
State of Florida Emergency Operations Center
Department of Environmental Protection
BP- Florida Unified Command Center
2555 Shumard Oaks
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
RE: City of Apalachicola BP Oil Protection
Dear Secretary Sole, Deputy Florida Incident Commander (BP) Mary Shaffer-Malwicki, and Deputy Florid Incident Commander (USCG) Joseph Boudrow:
By your decision not to approve or fund Apalachicola's effort to prepare and operation its own protection plan to defend itself against the BP Oil Spill products you have assumed sole responsibility for our protection. Because, as I said at the meeting on Monday, we are used to and prefer to have control over protecting our own backyard, the City will continue its efforts to analyze your activities and work on and suggest those protections which we deem necessary for the defense of Apalachicola against BP oil products. In that regard, I request the following:
1. An answer in writing to the question of whether the protection plan recently installed and to be tested by Bay County for St. Andrews Bay entrance has been approved by you and if so, what is the approved funding. Also, regarding that project, provide any analysis you have done or that has been performed on behalf of any of you regarding the effectiveness of this HDPE pipe plan installed there, as well as a copy of the application for and approval of a permit from the State of Florida or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this project and any photographs taken of this hard boom project in the ten days.
2. An answer in writing to the question of whether the protection plan presently in effect for Pensacola Bay against the BP oil products was approved by you and if so, state the amount of monies authorized or expended by your for that plan and its operation. Also, regarding that project provide any analysis you have done or that has been performed on your behalf regarding the effectiveness of this plan installed there, as well as a copy of the application for and approval of a permit from the State of Florida or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this project and any photographs taken of this hard boom project in the ten days.
3. Provide by email or facsimile a copy of each of the aerial reconnaissance reports in the format as provided by the aerial inspectors, including maps, aerial photographs and GIS or GPS locations performed by or on your behalf that included the Franklin or Gulf County near shore waters (out to 9 miles off of the islands and peninsula respectively) for the period from July 1 to the present, July 21, 2010, and then provide them to us daily as they are generated. (email address: bettwebb@cityofapalachicola.com)
4. Answer in writing stating what operations you (BP and the Coast Guard) or contractors hired by them) are performing in the area of the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, that are not also being performed by the City of Orange Beach, Alabama or contractors hired by the City and what amount has been paid or authorized by BP for operations of the I City of Orange Beach, Alabama, in that area that are of the same nature as those also being performed by BP or the Coast Guard or contractors hired by you.
5. Answer in writing whether any of the oil or oil products from the BP Oil Spill that have made it to Florida waters are submerged (i.e., under 6 feet from the water surface) and if so, what is being done to detect this submerged product, who is doing it and on what frequency and what if anything is being done to stop, divert or collect this submerged product, if any, who is doing it and on what frequency is it being done.
6. Answer in writing the scientific basis of your statement that any oil sheen that might enter Apalachicola Bay from the BP Oil Spill would not adversely affect the oysters, even though the public perception might be different.
7. If oil products from the BP Oil Spill do reach Gulf County and Franklin County waters and shores at the same time, will the personnel and equipment (boom, skimmers, etc.) be sufficient to protect each of the bays and shores in those counties at the same time and if not, how will they be allocated and who will make the decision on allocation?
8. Do you have any divers or underwater observation or inspection operations presently being conducted relating to the passes that lead from the Gulf of Mexico to Apalachicola Bay for the detection of submerged oil products from the BP Oil Spill and if such is discovered, what process or plan do you have to prevent against, block, divert or collect the oil and where are the personnel and equipment located at this time to do so.
9. Why is it that Gulf County was meeting with Unified Command in Mobile, Alabama, on Monday to get BP approval of their boom plan while the City of Apalachicola was told that Tallahassee - EOC was the location of Florida Unified Command and that Florida decisions are made there, and the City was required to be in Tallahassee to obtain approval of its protection strategy plan or modification of it. Is Florida Unified Command subordinate to the decision making of Mobile Unified Command such that a City or County would have to have their approval regardless of what Florida Unified Command decides?
This is all we have for now. We will keep the questions from our people coming to you as they are presented to us. Thank you for responding as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
VIA FACSIMILE
(850) 413-9848
July 21, 2010
State of Florida Emergency Operations Center
Department of Environmental Protection
BP- Florida Unified Command Center
2555 Shumard Oaks
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
RE: City of Apalachicola BP Oil Protection
Dear Secretary Sole, Deputy Florida Incident Commander (BP) Mary Shaffer-Malwicki, and Deputy Florid Incident Commander (USCG) Joseph Boudrow:
By your decision not to approve or fund Apalachicola's effort to prepare and operation its own protection plan to defend itself against the BP Oil Spill products you have assumed sole responsibility for our protection. Because, as I said at the meeting on Monday, we are used to and prefer to have control over protecting our own backyard, the City will continue its efforts to analyze your activities and work on and suggest those protections which we deem necessary for the defense of Apalachicola against BP oil products. In that regard, I request the following:
1. An answer in writing to the question of whether the protection plan recently installed and to be tested by Bay County for St. Andrews Bay entrance has been approved by you and if so, what is the approved funding. Also, regarding that project, provide any analysis you have done or that has been performed on behalf of any of you regarding the effectiveness of this HDPE pipe plan installed there, as well as a copy of the application for and approval of a permit from the State of Florida or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this project and any photographs taken of this hard boom project in the ten days.
2. An answer in writing to the question of whether the protection plan presently in effect for Pensacola Bay against the BP oil products was approved by you and if so, state the amount of monies authorized or expended by your for that plan and its operation. Also, regarding that project provide any analysis you have done or that has been performed on your behalf regarding the effectiveness of this plan installed there, as well as a copy of the application for and approval of a permit from the State of Florida or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this project and any photographs taken of this hard boom project in the ten days.
3. Provide by email or facsimile a copy of each of the aerial reconnaissance reports in the format as provided by the aerial inspectors, including maps, aerial photographs and GIS or GPS locations performed by or on your behalf that included the Franklin or Gulf County near shore waters (out to 9 miles off of the islands and peninsula respectively) for the period from July 1 to the present, July 21, 2010, and then provide them to us daily as they are generated. (email address: bettwebb@cityofapalachicola.com)
4. Answer in writing stating what operations you (BP and the Coast Guard) or contractors hired by them) are performing in the area of the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, that are not also being performed by the City of Orange Beach, Alabama or contractors hired by the City and what amount has been paid or authorized by BP for operations of the I City of Orange Beach, Alabama, in that area that are of the same nature as those also being performed by BP or the Coast Guard or contractors hired by you.
5. Answer in writing whether any of the oil or oil products from the BP Oil Spill that have made it to Florida waters are submerged (i.e., under 6 feet from the water surface) and if so, what is being done to detect this submerged product, who is doing it and on what frequency and what if anything is being done to stop, divert or collect this submerged product, if any, who is doing it and on what frequency is it being done.
6. Answer in writing the scientific basis of your statement that any oil sheen that might enter Apalachicola Bay from the BP Oil Spill would not adversely affect the oysters, even though the public perception might be different.
7. If oil products from the BP Oil Spill do reach Gulf County and Franklin County waters and shores at the same time, will the personnel and equipment (boom, skimmers, etc.) be sufficient to protect each of the bays and shores in those counties at the same time and if not, how will they be allocated and who will make the decision on allocation?
8. Do you have any divers or underwater observation or inspection operations presently being conducted relating to the passes that lead from the Gulf of Mexico to Apalachicola Bay for the detection of submerged oil products from the BP Oil Spill and if such is discovered, what process or plan do you have to prevent against, block, divert or collect the oil and where are the personnel and equipment located at this time to do so.
9. Why is it that Gulf County was meeting with Unified Command in Mobile, Alabama, on Monday to get BP approval of their boom plan while the City of Apalachicola was told that Tallahassee - EOC was the location of Florida Unified Command and that Florida decisions are made there, and the City was required to be in Tallahassee to obtain approval of its protection strategy plan or modification of it. Is Florida Unified Command subordinate to the decision making of Mobile Unified Command such that a City or County would have to have their approval regardless of what Florida Unified Command decides?
This is all we have for now. We will keep the questions from our people coming to you as they are presented to us. Thank you for responding as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor
The Historic City of Apalachicola
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