Authorities re-opened a 65-mile reach of the Mississippi River which had been shut down for cleanup after an oil barge spilled.
"An oil spill has shut down 65 miles of the Mississippi River in New Orleans, as authorities work to clean up the oil.
The spill occurred on Saturday when a barge carrying oil crashed into a tugboat between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Authorities closed the stretch of river on Sunday and still can’t say exactly how much oil was spilled, though a light sheen of oil is being reported. No injuries were reported from the crash.
In St. Charles Parish, public drinking water intakes along the Mississippi were closed as a precaution, but a news release Sunday assured the public that the water supply “remains safe” in the parish. As of Sunday night, the closure was stalling 16 vessels waiting to go downriver and 10 waiting to go upriver."
Katie Valentine reports for Climate Progress February 24, 2014.
SEE ALSO:
"Mississippi River Back Open After Oil Spill" (Weather Channel)
"Mississippi Oil Spill Highlights Risk of U.S. Oil Boom" (Bloomberg)