Representative Matt Gaetz Constituent Advisory June 28 Oil Cleanup Update

Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County beaches remain open, including the waters for fishing.

According to the NOAA oil plume model, the oil plume is 57 miles from Mexico Beach, and 244 miles from St. Petersburg. Wind and currents will prevent a further eastward movement of the oil plume along the northwestern Florida coastline. Areas already impacted, west of Choctawhatchee Bay, will continue to receive impacts as the oil plume moves slightly northwest and closer to the shoreline. No significant amounts of oil are within or moving toward the loop current ring and there is no clear path for oil to enter the Florida Straits within the next five days.

The majority of impacts to Florida's shoreline will likely be highly weathered, in the form of tar balls, oil sheen, tar mats or mousse - a pudding-like oil/water mixture that could be brown, rust or orange in color.

Tropical Storm Alex has been downgraded to a tropical depression. The system is approximately 673 miles southwest of Key West, or approximately 720 miles south-southeast of the Deepwater Horizon well head site. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph. A general west-northwest track across the Yucatan hunter aircraft is investigating the system again this afternoon. It is expected to reach tropical storm strength tonight.

Citizens are asked not to engage in direct contact with oil and oil contaminated products such as tar balls, tar patties, tar mats, and oil sheen. Only qualified members should handle oil products and oil contaminated materials. To report tar or oil on the beach, call the Florida State Warning Point Line at 1-877-272-8335 or # DEP from a cell phone.

Skimmers have been deployed in our area and are actively skimming 24-hours a day as weather permits.

Dispersants in Florida waters have been approved.

Skimming and recreational vessel decontamination facilities are being
established across the panhandle. The current list of vessel decontamination
locations within the U.S. Coast Guard Mobile Sector for oiled boats is
available at http://bpdecon.com/.

BP Claims

• BP Claims for Deepwater Horizon can now be submitted at http://www.bp.com/claims.
• BP claims in Florida total 21,288 with approximately $18,241,105.61 paid.

Small Business Disaster & Bridge Loans

Governor Crist announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved disaster loan funds for businesses along Florida's Gulf coast that have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident.

More information can be found at:
http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/SERV_DISASTERASSISTANCEGOV.ht
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Loan Applications

• Issued: 450
• Accepted: 115
• Declined: 24
• Approved: 13
• Loan amount approved: $778,900.00

Boom Placement

• Oil containment boom (in feet) total in Florida: 607, 261
• Approximately 380,900 feet of boom has been placed in Northwest Florida along the most sensitive areas and 225,700 feet has been staged.
• The Unified Command Operations Group is asking boaters to avoid damaging boom. Boom cut or broken due to boater traffic jeopardizes coastal protection.
• Stolen or misplaced boom should be reported to local authorities.

Vessels of Opportunity (boats) program

• BP is looking to contract shrimp boats, oyster boats and other vessels for hire through the Vessel of Opportunities Program to deploy boom in the Gulf of Mexico. For more information (866) 279-7983 or (877) 847-7470.
• 385 vessels have been deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.

Fishing

• All Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County waters are currently open to fishing. Oil has not affected most of Florida waters and there are vast amounts open for fishing and other recreational activities and the FWC encourages everyone to fish where the waters are clear and to enjoy freshly harvested seafood products in these areas. Updated information regarding fishing advisories or harvest closures in Florida due to the BP oil spill will be posted online at http://myfwc.com/OilSpill/index.htm.
• The FWC is taking precautionary actions and has issued a partial harvesting closure of saltwater fish and marine vertebrates. This closure covers state waters from the Alabama state line east to the Pensacola Beach tower (approximately 23 miles east and out nine miles from the coastline. Interior bays and estuaries remain open to fishing. The closure does not affect oysters, clams and scallops. Catch and release is still allowed. For more information visit http://myfwc.com/OilSpill/index.htm.

Important Phone Numbers

• Florida Oil Spill Information Line- 1-888- 337-3569
• Fraud Hotline - 1-866-966-7226.
• Submit Alternative Response Technology Services & Products- email horizonsupport@oegllc.com or call 1-281-366-5511
• Report Oiled Wildlife- 1-866-557-1401
• Report Oil Sightings- 1-866-448-5816
• BP Toll-Free Claims line- 1800-440-0858
• Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner gas price-gauging hotline: 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

Respectfully,

Matt

Representative Matt Gaetz
PO Box 88
Fort Walton Beach FL, 32549