Jindal, Obama call for troops to prevent oil spill disaster

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal asked for mobilization of the National Guard in advance of the oil spill threatening the Gulf, as this evening the Secretary of Defense formally authorized deployment of military support to help in the oil spill response.

In a formal press release issued at 7 pm this evening, the Secretary of Defense authorized mobilization of the Louisiana National Guard under Title 32 to help local communities in the cleanup and removal of oil and to protect the critical areas of habitation for wildlife from contamination. Earlier this afternoon officials from the Obama administration together with British Petroleum representatives and members of state agencies from Louisiana announced an all-out mobilization of resources, including help from the Department of Defense as well as oil and gas companies from around the world to help stop the oil spill from damaging the Gulf Coast. The Joint Committee followed upon with a summary statement following a principals-level meeting to announce the full integration in response to the incident in the Gulf of the oil spillage resulting from an oil rig explosion on April 20. Those senior officials participating included: "Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Rear Admiral Mary Landry, Deputy Secretary of Interior David Hayes NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Carol Browner." The EPA has also launched a website geared towards helping the health and welfare of the residents of the coast deal with the impact of the oil predicted to cause major environmental damage to the Gulf Coast. The website – epa.gov/bpspill - will contain data from EPA’s ongoing air monitoring along with other information about the agency’s activities in the region. “We are taking every possible step to protect the health of the residents and mitigate the environmental impacts of this spill,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. “For several days, EPA has been on the ground evaluating air and water concerns and coordinating with other responding agencies. We are also here to address community members -- the people who know these waters and wetlands best. They will be essential to the work ahead.” Today in a press conference Jackson said, "We are concerned about the welfare of the people. It is a serious human tragedy. Our hearts go out to the people affected." EPA has established air monitoring stations along Plaquemines Parish on the Louisiana coast. EPA established those facilities to determine how oil set on fire in the gulf and oil that is reaching land is impacting air quality. At this time EPA is monitoring levels of a number of chemicals potentially emitted by oil, including volatile organic compounds such as xylene, benzene and toluene. EPA has also deployed two Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzers – mobile laboratories that collect and analyze air quality samples in real time – to monitor air quality in the region. EPA tested smoke from the controlled burn two days ago and found the Louisiana coast had not been affected because an off-shore breeze was blowing away from land and out to sea during that time. The agency will continue to collect and share data with the public, and will coordinate and share information with local health officials. Officials observed from the EPA observed today they are testing the air and water quality to ensure the safety of the citizens. In the meantime the Joint Committee continues to issue regular press updates on the oil spillage, with requests for volunteers to help in the efforts to contain the problem and to assist with cleanup efforts.