Eleven lives lost, a coast in crisis and businesses threatened.The BP oil spill happened 15 years ago.It is still considered one of the worst environmental disasters this country has ever seen.The oil giant paid out $65 billion in cleanup costs, charges and penalties, but the scars still remain.The boats can be seen almost everywhere you look along Bayou la Loutre in St. Bernard Parish.The business of harvesting oysters in areas like Ysclosky is generational. Don Robin and his family have been in the oyster business for over 100 years. But 15 years ago, Robin and hundreds of others who make a living in Louisiana’s robust seafood industry saw their world come crashing down.”BP was like a whole new animal for us,” said Robin.On April 20, 2010, the Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig operated by oil giant BP exploded off the coast of Venice.It killed 11 people and led to the worst environmental disaster in this part of the country.Millions of gallons of oil spewed for weeks from an underground well.It left coastal areas like Grand Isle, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes covered in oil.The cause was a defective cement on the well.The federal government estimates that 210,000,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf.”We were totally shut down in the oyster business,” said Robin.”I watched fisherman cry on their boats, their docks, not knowing what their future will be,” said Fred Everhardt, a St. Bernard Parish councilman.Many fishermen and oyster farmers made ends meet by helping with the clean-up, which took four years to fully complete.Over 40,000 people laid boom, used skimmers, and did whatever they could to contain and clean up the mess, which greatly impacted wildlife like birds, sea turtles and marine mammals.A chemical called Corexit was dropped on the oil to serve as a dispersant.And exposure to Corexit by so many still concerns Everhardt, who also works in the fishing industry.”Now, we have to worry about what is going on health-wise, and could it cause cancer or any other diseases?” said Everhardt.”Is there still a health concern for the people out there cleaning up the oil?” asked WDSU’s Travers Mackel. “There is,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser.Nungesser was Plaquemines Parish president when the oil spill happened.He appeared on national newscasts on an almost nightly basis, blasting the response and fighting for the state.”Fifteen years forward, do you think the fight was worth it? Are we where we should be?” asked Mackel. “We told the world that south Louisiana wasn’t going to stand for people coming in here and, and save our fisheries and coast, you’re not going to ram it down out throat and you’re not going to bring people in from out of town to tell us how to clean it up.”BP also spent billions of dollars making businesses that were impacted along the Gulf Coast whole.Tens of thousands of claims were filed and fulfilled.”It was tough, it was tough times for us,” said Paul Rotner, CEO of Acme Oyster House.Acme Oyster House had to fight to get its fair share of money from BP.While the price for oysters continues to be higher than it was before the spill, Acme feels that 15 years later, it is seeing things get better.”As far as business-wise, we’re seeing business come back. People are eating seafood, they’re eating oysters,” said Rotner.BP pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the deaths in the explosion and paid over $4 billion in fines and penalties.Congress and federal officials continue to try to regulate the offshore oil industry to prevent disasters.State Treasurer Dr. John Fleming was in Congress when the spill happened and later worked for the Trump White House.”Do you think we’re safer, the environment and people are safer now than they were 15 years ago?” asked Mackel.”Absolutely, I do. I honestly do,” said Fleming.But environmentalists disagree.”The Gulf of Mexico is still very susceptible to having spills on a smaller scale, but over the long term, it can really add up,” said Naomi Yoder, an environmental activist.Fifteen years later, the state is forever changed.As so many reflect on this tragedy.”Thank God we are back here … and BP has really made us whole,” said Robin.There are about half the number of oyster boat operators now in comparison with 2010.That’s due to many not being able to recover, others getting bp and retiring and some just unable to continue family businesses.
Eleven lives lost, a coast in crisis and businesses threatened.
The BP oil spill happened 15 years ago.
It is still considered one of the worst environmental disasters this country has ever seen.
The oil giant paid out $65 billion in cleanup costs, charges and penalties, but the scars still remain.
The boats can be seen almost everywhere you look along Bayou la Loutre in St. Bernard Parish.
The business of harvesting oysters in areas like Ysclosky is generational.
Don Robin and his family have been in the oyster business for over 100 years.
But 15 years ago, Robin and hundreds of others who make a living in Louisiana’s robust seafood industry saw their world come crashing down.
“BP was like a whole new animal for us,” said Robin.
On April 20, 2010, the Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig operated by oil giant BP exploded off the coast of Venice.
It killed 11 people and led to the worst environmental disaster in this part of the country.
Millions of gallons of oil spewed for weeks from an underground well.
It left coastal areas like Grand Isle, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes covered in oil.
The cause was a defective cement on the well.
The federal government estimates that 210,000,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf.
“We were totally shut down in the oyster business,” said Robin.
“I watched fisherman cry on their boats, their docks, not knowing what their future will be,” said Fred Everhardt, a St. Bernard Parish councilman.
Many fishermen and oyster farmers made ends meet by helping with the clean-up, which took four years to fully complete.
Over 40,000 people laid boom, used skimmers, and did whatever they could to contain and clean up the mess, which greatly impacted wildlife like birds, sea turtles and marine mammals.
A chemical called Corexit was dropped on the oil to serve as a dispersant.
And exposure to Corexit by so many still concerns Everhardt, who also works in the fishing industry.
“Now, we have to worry about what is going on health-wise, and could it cause cancer or any other diseases?” said Everhardt.
“Is there still a health concern for the people out there cleaning up the oil?” asked WDSU’s Travers Mackel. “There is,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser.
Nungesser was Plaquemines Parish president when the oil spill happened.
He appeared on national newscasts on an almost nightly basis, blasting the response and fighting for the state.
“Fifteen years forward, do you think the fight was worth it? Are we where we should be?” asked Mackel.
“We told the world that south Louisiana wasn’t going to stand for people coming in here and, and save our fisheries and coast, you’re not going to ram it down out throat and you’re not going to bring people in from out of town to tell us how to clean it up.”
BP also spent billions of dollars making businesses that were impacted along the Gulf Coast whole.
Tens of thousands of claims were filed and fulfilled.
“It was tough, it was tough times for us,” said Paul Rotner, CEO of Acme Oyster House.
Acme Oyster House had to fight to get its fair share of money from BP.
While the price for oysters continues to be higher than it was before the spill, Acme feels that 15 years later, it is seeing things get better.
“As far as business-wise, we’re seeing business come back. People are eating seafood, they’re eating oysters,” said Rotner.
BP pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the deaths in the explosion and paid over $4 billion in fines and penalties.
Congress and federal officials continue to try to regulate the offshore oil industry to prevent disasters.
State Treasurer Dr. John Fleming was in Congress when the spill happened and later worked for the Trump White House.
“Do you think we’re safer, the environment and people are safer now than they were 15 years ago?” asked Mackel.
“Absolutely, I do. I honestly do,” said Fleming.
But environmentalists disagree.
“The Gulf of Mexico is still very susceptible to having spills on a smaller scale, but over the long term, it can really add up,” said Naomi Yoder, an environmental activist.
Fifteen years later, the state is forever changed.
As so many reflect on this tragedy.
“Thank God we are back here … and BP has really made us whole,” said Robin.
There are about half the number of oyster boat operators now in comparison with 2010.
That’s due to many not being able to recover, others getting bp and retiring and some just unable to continue family businesses.
