The following is a statement state officials released Wednesday at 6:33 p.m, regarding the oil spill in the Mississippi River early Wednesday:

Baton Rouge, July 23, 2008 –The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) along with key Federal, State and Local agencies are actively monitoring the Mississippi River oil spill.

“We will continue to work with our Federal, State and Local partners to monitor this oil spill,” said Mark Cooper, GOHSEP Director, “Local residents need to stay tuned to their local media stations to obtain updates on the oil spill.”

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness:
The spill happened Wednesday morning at approximately 2 a.m. when a ship and a barge collided at mile marker 98 near Harahan. The barge split in half and spilled an estimated 9980 barrels of oil. Affected parishes include Orleans, St. Bernard, Jefferson and Plaquemines.

Once the spill was reported, three parishes (Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines) and the City of Gretna closed their water in-takes -- where water is stored and treated for residential use; therefore, the impact of the spill regarding contamination is minimal. Local parishes conduct water testing and are re-opening the intake water system after testing confirms water is suitable for consumption.

The impact to these parishes is as follows:

Orleans: Parish officials have tested the water in-take for the West bank area and have deemed the water suitable for consumption. The east bank is not impacted. 

St. Bernard:  The in-take valves from the Mississippi River are closed.  Currently, the water provided is being taken from a reserve. Therefore, residents are encouraged to conserve water until further notice from local officials.

Jefferson: The water in-take valves in the City of Gretna are closed. Gretna residents are getting water from Jefferson Parish. Residents are urged to conserve water until further notice from local officials.

Plaquemines: The in-take valves are also closed from the Mississippi River. West Bank residents may experience low water pressure. East Bank residents are obtaining water from a reserve and are also encouraged to conserve water until further notice from local officials.

At the request of Plaquemines Parish, the state is providing bottled drinking water for potential distribution. The state encourages local residents to follow the guidance provided by local officials.  The state is prepared to support other parishes as requested.  

The barge involved is now located near the Crescent City Connection where it is being held by four tug boats. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) says about a 45 mile stretch is closed to river traffic.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry:
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is closely monitoring the situation and the agricultural interests in the vicinity of the spill. 

Office of Coastal Restoration and Protection:

In keeping with the Caernarvon Freshwater Diversion Project water control plan, the structure, which delivers freshwater from the Mississippi River to marshes outside the levees in St. Bernard Parish, was closed on Tuesday July 22, 2008 due to Tropical Storm / Hurricane Dolly entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Normally the Structure would be re-opened after the storm makes landfall. However, due to the oil spill in the Mississippi River approximately 17 miles upstream from Caernarvon, the structure will remained closed until after the clean up is completed and the Coast Guard gives us an all-clear.

In conjunction with the closing of Caernarvon, Plaquemines Parish also closed both of their Siphons at Naomi and West Pt-a-la-Hache.

Bob Turner of the East Bank Consolidated Levee District also had the Violet Siphon in St. Bernard Parish closed until he gets an all-clear on the spill.  

LouisianaDepartment of Environmental Quality:
The Department of Environmental Quality will continue to monitor and they have found no levels that would cause any concerns.

DEQ will continue to provide scientific support to federal, state and local officials.

United StatesArmy Corps of Engineers:
The Corps is monitoring the situation and have assisted the US Coast Guard by allowing them to launch vessels from our facility along the Mississippi River.

Our navigation locks in the affected area are closed to keep the spill within the river.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development:
DOTD has shut down its ferry operations in the area until the Coast Guard re-opens the river. This closure affects the ferries in Gretna, New Orleans (Canal Street) and Chalmette.

At least one of the pieces of the barge came to rest on the fender of one of the piers for the older Crescent City Connection bridge, but there was no damage to the bridge, and there are no plans to close the bridge. However, once the river is re-opened, DOTD engineers will use SONAR equipment to determine if either sunken piece of the barge is posing any long-term problems for the pier. The concern is that the debris can alter the river's current around the pier, causing damage.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals:
The municipal water supply in the affected areas is coming from reserve storage tanks. That water was pumped into those tanks and stored before Wednesday’s fuel spill on the Mississippi river. No water from the Mississippi river is being piped into the communities until it is tested and deemed safe for human consumption.

DHH is providing experts to advise community water systems affected by the Mississippi River oil spill. DHH experts are monitoring water testing to ensure safe drinking water.

Louisiana State Police:
State Police Emergency Services Unit is conducting air monitoring, marinating situational awareness and stands ready to support the State of Louisiana as needed with regards to the Mississippi River oil spill.

Louisiana National Guard:
Louisiana National Guard stands ready to assist the State of Louisiana with personal and equipment to support the response efforts of the Mississippi River oil spill.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:
LDWF personnel work closely with the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator in the Office of the Governor to respond to spills and devise protection strategies for sensitive wildlife and fisheries resources.  We will continue to monitor the status of the spill and clean up operations, and advise responders as to the location and nature of sensitive wildlife and fisheries resources.  There are important fresh water fishery resources in the river itself. Chances of affecting estuarine resources occur downriver of New Orleans where there are breaks in the levees or uncontrolled discharge points allowing the product to enter marshes and shallow estuarine waters.  Agency staff will also be monitoring conditions in the marsh areas adjacent to the river.