March 4, 2011–News from the Gulf, Part Deux

Due to high winds and huge waves, I decided to visit the wildlife refuge again to document the process of sand migration as it applies to uncovering and covering the oil shelf that remains at the beach there. When I arrived cleanup workers were being called off the beach due to poor visibility and high surf…I suppose. After a few minutes my sunglasses were completely coated in oily haze.

As I walked, slabs of oil started to be uncovered. As well, the smell of crude oil was almost unbearable today. It reminded me of the summer when this particular beach was heavily oiled.

Over lunch, I chatted with a friend who lives locally. She said that many residents believe the oil is all cleaned up and all is well. It is difficult to believe that people who live along the coast actually believe the oil is gone, but I don’t doubt it a bit. The general consensus, nationally, is the oil spill is over. Media has disappeared for the most part and so the Gulf Coast is no longer news. However, the wildlife refuge beach is still covered in oil. And from time to time the huge shelf disappears, but eventually sand is moved in the natural migration process and voila! Oil emerges from its hiding place.

After my two hour walk on the beach, I neared the boardwalk to return to my car. The major part of the oil shelf was starting to be exposed. I walked on to my vehicle and as I sat and began to take notes, I glanced over to my cameras on the other seat. They were literally DRIPPING with the oily, brown moisture that was being blown from over the Gulf across the beach. I wiped my cameras down with a white napkin and the result was a brown, oily residue on the napkin. I hesitantly wiped my face with a clean napkin and had the same result.

I apologized to my body, especially my lungs, and realized how serious the situation still is in SOME locations. Maybe the chemicals are not as volatile, but if you can smell it and see it, does it not pose some risk? Of course, last year the beaches remained open while children romped in water highly contaminated with crude oil so I do not expect any beach closings at this point. If we all believed the BP web sites and tourist boards we, too, would believe that all is well on the Gulf Coast.

Walk with me…walk and see….I’m just saying…..

Dare to see the truth for yourself.