Back to top

Pre-assessment Data Report on Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike Oil Discharge in Louisiana and Texas

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike made landfall on September 1 and 12, 2008, respectively. High winds and waves associated with the passage of these storms caused a number of discharges of oil from damaged facilities, tanks, and pipelines along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas and in deeper waters offshore.

The NOAA and Texas Trustees’ discussions of injury assessment activities for the majority of oil discharges following the passage of the two hurricanes were combined into the Hurricane Ike and Gustav Pre-Assessment Data Report (single document) because these incidents occurred within two weeks of one another, and there was an overlap in the area impacted. Pre-assessment Phase efforts are described in this report.

Given the number of discharge incidents and the potential magnitude and complexity of associated claims, the NOAA and Texas Trustees deferred the decision of whether to proceed with restoration planning in case previously undetected impacts became evident. Based on the difficulty in distinguishing the cause of the impacts post hurricane (whether due to physical disturbance, salt water intrusion, or oil), the observed improvement in the condition of natural resources immediately following the hurricanes and subsequent oil releases, and the subsequent absence of newly detected impacts, the NOAA and Texas Trustees find that they cannot decisively conclude under 15 C.F.R. § 990.42 that, for the areas addressed by the NOAA and Texas Trustee preassessment activities, injuries resulted from the spills or that the response actions had not adequately addressed any potential injuries. Therefore, the Trustees have decided not to conduct restoration planning for these incidents.

For further information, contact Jennifer.Kunzelman@noaa.gov.
Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.

Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:50pm PST