by Chase Lowenstein

With the Gulf Coast fully in Hurricane Isaac cleanup mode, the Coast Guard and others have begun to survey pollution left by the storm. At a press conference today to update Isaac recovery, Captain Peter W. Gautier announced there are currently approximately 90 cases of pollution that need to be addressed, 60 of which are actively leaking machines. Some are overturned tanks in Plaquemines Parish that are leaking oil while other machines are leaking airborne and liquid chemicals. 

Rail-cars containing hazardous chemicals were also knocked over in the storm. Although they aren't reported as currently leaking, the U.S. Coast Guard is working towards returning the cars to a safe state, Gautier said.

Captain Gautier also vocalized Coast Guard reports yesterday that there are small amounts of pelicans covered with oil. However, Senator Mary Landrieu downplayed the reports stating that it could've been much worse considering the circumstances.

Today Senator Mary Landrieu and several Commandants of the U.S. National Guard held a press conference at the Marine Corps. Support Facility to discuss what's being done in the wake of Isaac.

"We're currently working to solve pollution incidents as we speak," Admiral Roy A. Nash told reporters. "There are many cases of oil drums being dislodged, and three cargo ships that need to be salvaged."

In response to questions concerning pollution caused by the hurricane, Admiral Papp stated that investigating pollution is a primary responsibility of the U.S. Coast Guard and they look into every report of spillage they get. He explained that there are far fewer incidents related to Isaac than there were with storms of the past.

Senator Landrieu admitted that the feds don't have a firm grasp on the number of pollution incidents. She said that such incidents are a reality in New Orleans, which serves as a major hub for the United State's oil industry.

"Isaac was a Catagory 1 hurricane that acted like a Catagory 3," primarily because it stayed over the city for over 60 hours - behavior that is unprecedented for a category 1 hurricane.

The Coast Guard also addressed their efforts to get the river back up to full commerce in the wake of the storm. Papp said that they are not only making it a priority to restore the port of New Orleans, but also eastern ports all along the gulf.

"We learned our lessons from Katrina. We are also learning lessons from Isaac and will be ready for the next one," he said.

Despite facing unresolving environmental issues, Senator Landrieu made a point to assure the nation's economic powers that they should continue to invest in New Orleans. She reminded us that the economic-benefit ratio of supporting/protecting our City and it's ports is well worth it because we are a "Very important strategic area for the United States".

In response to naysayers who think investing in a hurricane-prone area is ridiculous, Landrieu boldly stated that "Any money invested in the area will come back tenfold overtime."

Landrieu sent a letter to President Obama today that urged him to light a fire under FEMA to complete their damage assessment so citizens can start receiving aid. In the letter, she also once again drew attention to the fact that the Army Corps of Engineers' new construction budget is $2 billion, which would not allow Southeast Louisiana to build the flood protection it needs to prevent another disaster.