Navy gets assignment to develop long range plan to clean up Gulf Region

[HeyJoe]

100617-N-0000S-001 WASHINGTON, (June 17, 2010) President Barack Obama meets with Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus in the Oval Office. Mabus has been selected by Obama to develop a long-term plan for the restoration of the Gulf Coast region in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater oil rig that sank April 22, causing a massive oil spill threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast. (White House photo by Pete Souza/Released)

 

[helolumpy]

Since when has 'long term restoration' been a military mission? The 6 core mission in the CS21 doesn't have long-term restoration listed.

A simple Google search found this: NOAA Restoration Center. The Restoration Center has three main objectives: to restore degraded coastal and estuarine habitats; to advance the science underlying coastal habitat restoration and developing improved technology for archiving successful restoration; and to transfer restoration technology to the private sector, the public, and governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.

Shouldn't the EPA have a role in this as well???

Why, during a time when we are fighting two wars, does the President give SECNAV this assignement. Since he's remaining SECNAV, this is in effect a collateral duty... Isn't this a little too big to be a collateral duty???

 

[lowflier03]

Since when does the Navy have the Training, Funding, Manpower or Equipment for something like this?

 

[statesman]

Since when does the Navy have the Training, Funding, Manpower or Equipment for something like this?

Equipment and training I think are the biggest issues here. I understand the President wanting to use all of the tools at his disposal to help clean up the oil (and maybe his approval rating) but as a fighting force our capabilities are geared towards blowing things up. Occasionally that lends itself to being able to help out in non-combat missions (like humanitarian aid).... but by and large I doubt the Navy will be particularly useful, or efficient at cleaning up oil. Unless this long term strategy includes the full employment of the A-Pool....

 

[slug]

Anyone have any word on how deployments/flights ISO the Deep Water Horizon/BP mission are going?

Brunes, doing anything besides spotting oil in the Gulf?

 

[CoastieFlyer]

Anyone have any word on how deployments/flights ISO the Deep Water Horizon/BP mission are going?

Brunes, doing anything besides spotting oil in the Gulf?

They are going............LOTS of them. I think I counted 14 65's in the hanger the other night from various units deployed here. The CASA's seem to fly all day and night on it. All we have been doing lately is flying admirals from point A to point B but it beats looking at oil slicks.

 

[HeyJoe]

100701-N-5549O-186 BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (July 1, 2010) Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus tours waters off the coast of Alabama to observe oil skimming operations. Mabus is on a five-day visit to the Gulf Coast to assess the area to develop a long-term restoration plan for the region. He will meet with state and local officials in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O'Brien/Released)

 

[Brunes]

Last I heard Mobile was fielding 28 hours of air coverage in every 24 hour day with approx 7 sorties- and that was just the 65 branch.

AirStation NOLA normally has 5 helos...We are up to 9 right now. We have full extra maintenance shifts. I haven't flown out there since May...Did a shoreline trip from NBG to GPT yesterday and didn't see any significant deposits.

NOLA has become a wicked busy place....

 

[PropStop]

Government: If you think the problems we cause are bad, wait until you see our solutions!

 

[slug]

Government: If you think the problems we cause are bad, wait until you see our solutions!

Exactly. I mean, what are all those aircrews doing? Not SAR. We'll fly 28 hours a day turning oil into exhaust to spot oil slicks that we can spot with satelites already. This is PR retardation. The irony is we're burning tons more oil (JP-8) because of this "mission".

I know, the aircrews are flying up and down the Gulf coast screaming "the Gushins are coming, the Gushins are coming" (oil that is, Texas tea-bags). I'll be here all night.

 

[Brunes]

Exactly. I mean, what are all those aircrews doing? Not SAR. We'll fly 28 hours a day turning oil into exhaust to spot oil slicks that we can spot with satelites already. This is PR retardation. The irony is we're burning tons more oil (JP-8) because of this "mission".

I know, the aircrews are flying up and down the Gulf coast screaming "the Gushins are coming, the Gushins are coming" (oil that is, Texas tea-bags). I'll be here all night.

To be fair- Those flights out of Mobile would not have been launched on SAR no matter what. The 4 TAD helos in New Orleans might have other stuff they could be doing. And having an asset with radio capability to vector oil skimming vessels toward small blobs of oil in real time is pretty handy. Plus the majority of those flights are helping pilots get semi annual mins complete.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

This is how it went down.

PRES OBAMA: Ray, now let me be clear. I need you and your boys to develop a long-term plan for restoring the Gulf coast, sooner rather than later. We've got mid term elections coming up and this is important to my comrades in the House and Senate.

SECNAV: Mr. President, you're out of your fucking mind.

PRES OBAMA: Now Ray, you know I'm from Chicago right?....right?

SECNAV: Yes, Mr. President

PRES OBAMA: Ok now. We can do this the easy way or the Chicago way. What do you want to do?

SECNAV: I want my mommy!