UPDATE:   Statement of Wildlife Center President Ed Clark on Report of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling  [January 19, 2011]

Reflections on the Oil Spill:  One Year After the Explosion  [April 21, 2011]

 Highlights of Oil Spill Damage Assessment Team Activities in the Gulf of Mexico June 10 – 15, 2010

 Prepared by Ed Clark

I was pleased to be invited to participate on a team of wildlife and habitat experts invited to tour areas impacted by the explosion on April 20 of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig operated by British Petroleum (BP) and the subsequent spill of light crude oil from the deepwater well known as Mississippi Canyon 252.  While exact spill figures are not available, the current estimates are that some 40,000 – 65,000 barrels of oil per day are still flowing from the ruptured wellhead into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana.  This spill is the largest man-made environmental disaster in US history.

The interdisciplinary damage assessment mission was organized and hosted by the Humane Society of the United States [HSUS]. The purpose of the mission was to gain an accurate understanding of the issues surrounding the spill, and identify areas in which additional effort or resources might be needed to meet both the short-term and long-term needs of wildlife and the environment.  The intent was to develop a set of observations and proposals upon which action plans could be based. 

Members of the team included an eco-toxicologist from Canada, whose doctoral work was on the impact of oil on wildlife, a marine mammal expert from Massachusetts, a habitat specialist from Maryland, a veterinarian from Tennessee who is experienced in disaster response, a disaster response planning expert from Florida who managed much of the Humane Society’s animal rescue response following Hurricane Katrina, and the manager of the Humane Society’s three direct wildlife care centers nationwide who also has extensive disaster response experience.  Then, there was me, experienced in the direct handling and care of wildlife, as well as the development of cooperative efforts between public and private institutions.  Prior to the trip, all team members had to complete BP’s Hazardous Materials Safety Certification course, to assure familiarity with the serious dangers of proximity to and contact with crude oil.

What follows is a summary of the mission itself.

June 10 report

June 11 report

June 12 report

June 13 report

June 14 report 

Conclusions 

Responding to the Wildlife Crisis in the Gulf: Statement of Wildlife Center of Virginia President Ed Clark  [June 21]

 News Interviews with Ed About the Gulf Coast Trip

Fall 2010
World Gone Mad, Bridgewater

September 21, 2010
The Oil and the Turtles, Vanity Fair

August 4, 2010
President of Wildlife Center of VA Speaks Out, WSET-TV

July 28, 2010
Wildlife Center Focuses on DC 100 Days Into Oil Spill Crisis, WHSV-TV

July 26, 2010
A Wildlife Update, Virginia Insight, WMRA

July 14, 2010
Gulf Reports Still Troubling, editorial, The Daily Progress

In early July Ed visited several wildlife rehabilitation centers in south Florida.  On July 2 he was interviewed in Key West about his recent experiences.

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

June 24, 2010
State Expert Looks to Aid Oil-Drenched Animals, The Free Lance-Star
Correction

June 21, 2010
Feds to Wildlife Center:  Thanks, But No Thanks, Augusta Free Press

June 18, 2010
Ed Clark Tours the Gulf of Mexico, WMRA

June 17, 2010
Wildlife Center President Makes Trip to Gulf Coast, The News Leader

June 16, 2010
Not Enough Rescue Workers in the Gulf, The Charlottesville Newsplex

June 16, 2010
Virginia Wildlife Expert Returns from the Gulf Coast, WDBJ-TV

June 16, 2010
Expert Shows How to Clean Oil-Soaked Wildlife,  WSET-TV

June 16, 2010
Wildlife Center of VA President Back from Gulf, WSLS-TV

June 16, 2010
Frustrated Clark Returns from Gulf, WVIR-TV

June 16, 2010
Virginia Wildlife Expert Visits Gulf Coast, WVTF

June 15, 2010
Valley Man Returns From Research Trip on the Gulf  Coast, WHSV-TV

June 15, 2010
 Analyst Gives First-Hand Account of Gulf Disaster, WSET-TV

June 9, 2010
Local Man Going to Help in Gulf, WSET-TV

June 8, 2010
Local Wildlife Expert Heads to Gulf Coast, The Charlottesville Newsplex

June 8, 2010
Valley Expert Headed to Gulf to Help Wildlife, WHSV-TV

June 8, 2010
President of the Wildlife Center of Virginia Heads to Gulf, WSLS-TV

June 8, 2010
Helping Gulf Wildlife, News Virginian

June 11, 2010
Wildlife Center Director Heading to Gulf, WVIR-TV