Major oil spill off Louisiana coast sees 1.1m gallons of toxic petroleum spewed into Gulf of Mexico – and experts fear it could wipe out endangered whales and turtles
A major oil spill was discovered in the Gulf of Mexico after a nearby pipeline leaked 1.1 million gallons, threatening endangered sea turtles and whales.
The U.S. Coast Guard identified the incident Friday and determined this week that the black toxic petroleum came from a 67-mile pipeline off Louisiana’s southeast coast.
The region is home to the world’s most endangered sea turtle species and a pod of whales of which there are fewer than 100 left.
While the source has yet to be confirmed, officials believe it comes from a JPMorgan-owned company.
Environmental groups are now calling on the Biden administration to “wake up” to the dangers of allowing “oil companies to expand their heavy footprint in our sensitive coastal waters.”
More than a million gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, home to some of the world’s most endangered sea turtles and whales
The Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit organization that protects endangered species, shared: “From dolphins to birds to rare whales, Gulf animals are once again under siege by a spill-prone industry that puts profit above all else.
“The Biden administration needs to wake up and stop allowing oil companies to increase their heavy footprint in our sensitive coastal waters.”
Over the past five decades, more than 44 oil spills have each released more than 420,000 gallons into U.S. waters.
The Gulf of Mexico is home to several endangered animals.
This includes the world’s most endangered sea turtle, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, with a population of less than 10,000.
Sperm whales also live in the Gulf, with a population of about 300,000 – there were about 1.1. million before the whaling industry in the 19th century.
Another is the rice whale, which was recently identified in 2021 and was determined to have fewer than 100 in the Gulf.
None of the oil has reached the country, although its effect on wildlife is still being investigated.
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife official said two oily pelicans were spotted off the coast of Louisiana on Saturday, but they still appeared active and able to fly.
The pipeline in question is owned by Texas-based Main Pass Oil Gathering (MPOG) and was shut down Thursday morning after crude oil was spotted about 20 miles offshore of the Mississippi River Delta, near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orlean.
The Gulf of Mexico is home to several endangered animals. This includes the world’s most endangered sea turtle, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, with a population of less than 10,000
Another is the rice whale, which was recently identified in 2021 and was determined to have fewer than 100 in the Gulf.
The U.S. Coast Guard identified the incident Friday and determined this week that the black, toxic petroleum was leaking near a 67-mile pipeline off Louisiana’s southeast coast.
Kristen Monsell of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Oceans Program said: ‘Ocean wildlife will almost certainly pay a terrible price for this massive pipeline spill, which is less an accident than a completely predictable consequence of offshore -oil operations.’
The pipeline in question is owned by Texas-based Main Pass Oil Gathering (MPOG) and was shut down Thursday morning after crude oil was discovered about 20 miles offshore of the Mississippi River delta, near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans.
According to reports, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observed an oil slick three to four miles wide coming from the pipeline, a subsidiary of Third Coast Infrastructure that JPMorgan controls.
DailyMail.com has contacted Third Coast Infrastructure for comment.
Tyson Solcum, director of Public Citizen’s energy program, said: “JPMorgan’s control of a company involved in a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico clearly illustrates the danger of banks owning energy companies.
“Third Coast has a JPMorgan executive on its board of directors overseeing management and therefore exposes JPMorgan to liability for this disaster.
“The Federal Reserve should enforce the Bank Holding Company Act and ban Wall Street banks from controlling energy infrastructure because it poses systemic risks.”
Although the exact volume of oil spilled was unknown, the Coast Guard, which led the cleanup, said initial calculations placed the spill volume at 1.1 million gallons, or 26,190 barrels.
This month’s oil spill does not surpass the 2010 BP oil spill, which released 134 million liters during an oil rig explosion (photo)
Although the exact volume of oil spilled was unknown, the Coast Guard, which led the cleanup, said initial calculations placed the spill volume at 1.1 million gallons, or 26,190 barrels.
Federal officials said the amount could be higher, but not greater, than the 2010 BP oil spill, which released 134 million gallons during an oil rig explosion.
The oil spill was discovered during high winds in the Gulf, which caused some of the oil to evaporate and spread.
But the U.S. Coast Guard said shine and spots were visible in the clear blue water.
Although the leak is located near Third Coast infrastructure, officials have not yet determined responsibility.
Capt. Kelly Denning, deputy commander of Sector New Orleans, said, “They are suspected of being the responsible party, but we won’t know until we find the source, so we continue to refer to them as the responding party.”
The area has four other operating pipelines: Talos, W&T Offshore, Occidental and Australia’s Byron Energy.