While Florida gets ready for a special session of the Legislature that convenes Tuesday to ponder the future of oil drilling in state waters, the U.S. Coast Guard increasingly is playing a prominent role in combating the effects of the Gulf oil spill.
On Monday, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole and Coast Guard Commander Joe Boudrow detailed the coordinated efforts from the federal, state and local government regarding the Gulf oil spill.
We had no oil sightings in Florida waters as of this morning, said Boudrow,who currently serves as the deputy incident commander for the Florida Panhandle.
Weve gotten quite a calm in the storm, said Sole, who noted the bulk of the oil spill remains 85 miles off the coast of Florida and, under prevailing weather conditions and winds, continues to drift west, away from Sunshine State shores.
While the oil spill may be capped, at least for the moment, both men stressed that coordinated efforts from all branches of government, BP and assorted contractors continue. Were constantly looking for oil in the water, said Boudrow.
The Coast Guard commander said Panhandle operations had been broken into four districts: Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; Oskaloosa and Walton counties; Bay County; and Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson and Washington counties.
Sole praised the coordinated efforts, saying response to oil sightings and communications between various branches of government was moving faster and more efficiently -- a huge improvement from initial operations.
He offered the highest praise to the Coast Guard for its efforts in the oil cleanup.
The Coast Guard has really stepped up, said Sole.
The Coast Guard is committed to staying in this fight as long as it takes, said Boudrow.
Coast Guard members and vessels, stationed across the nation, including ships based on the California coast, continue to lead the cleanup operations, including skimming oil in the Gulf.
Retired Admiral Thad Allen, who served as commandant of the Coast Guard and led federal efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, serves as the national incident commander of federal efforts to combat the oil spill.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at 850-727-0859.
