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Follow the timeline of state actions during the Deepwater Horizon disaster, detailing key events, decisions, and challenges faced by Florida's Division of Food Safety. Discover insights into emergency declarations, lab activations, equipment purchases, and more. Learn about FERN labs, alternative methods, and the reopening process amid capacity concerns. Explore the importance of monitoring plans and managing expectations across various stakeholders.
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DEEPWATER HORIZON FERN IN ACTIONA State’s Perspective Marion Aller, DVM, DABT Director, Division of Food Safety Florida Department of Ag. & Cons. Services
Days 2 - 8 • 4/22 DWH sinks, taking the damaged riser with it. • 4/24 Oil leakage estimated at 1000 barrels/day (42K gallons) • 4/28 NOAA estimates oil leakage at 5000 barrels/day. BP estimates 60-90 days to drill permanent relief well.
Days 9 - 10 • 4/29 President declares incident a “Spill of National Significance” LA issues emergency declaration – MS, AL, FL follow suit next day • 4/30 FL activates EOC FDACS assesses capabilities
Days 11 - 13 • 5/1 USCG Adm. Thad Allen appointed Incident Commander • 5/2 NOAA closes federal waters BP begins underwater use of dispersants to mitigate oil reaching surface
Days 16 – 24 0 • 5/2 NOAA Closes waters • 5/6 FDA identifies “NOAA” method • 5/7 FDA Mobile Lab plans move to TLH • 5/12 FERN activated • 5/13 FDA Mobile Lab arrives • 5/14 8 FERN Labs identified to run NOAA method 1st Draft Reopening Protocol
Days 30 -39 • 5/20 BP pulling 5K barrels from insertion tube – concedes underestimate of total leakage • 5/21 FERN notifies labs FDA will purchase needed equipment (d 9) • 5/25 “Top kill” procedure starts • 529 “Top Kill” halted
Days 42 - 51 • 6/2-3 Oil washes up on Dauphin Island Cap installed on riser oil flow 1st piece equipment arrives (d 21,12)
6/6-8 BP manipulates vents, increases capture rate to 10k, then 14.8K barrels/d • 6/10 Oil arrives Perdido Pass (AL-FL border. 2nd piece equipment arrives (d 29, 20)
Days 57 - 59 • 6/18 Florida FWCC closes 200 square miles of state gulf (not inland) waters from Al-FL state line to west of Pensacola Bay. Number of Labs – Alternate methods Number samples/week/lab -
Days 62 - 79 • 6/21 Last item arrives – method validation begins in earnest (d 31) • 7/8 FL begins consideration to reopen closed waters At this point, concerns rise regarding what lab will run samples, when. Capacity issues unresolved…. Monitoring plans discussed
Days 83 - 102 • 7/12 Lab reports difficulty w/ background PAH interference. Visit sister lab. • 7/15 Valves on capping stack closed at 2:26 pm CDT. Oil stops flowing. • 7/26-9 Method validation, LODs complete (d 75-78, 66-9) I m after equipment • 7/31 FL reopens harvest to fish Lab loses power
Days 105 -122 • 8/3 Samples arrive in lab • 8/19 Receive alternative method • 8/20 Report first samples (17 days after receipt -
Where do we go from here??? • Triggers to activate FERN • “Matching” labs to methods, surge capacity • Equipment purchases • Identification: methods, LODs • Reporting results • Mechanism for alternative methods
Where do we go from here?? • Messaging/managing expectations (what a lab can do, what it can’t) • Coordinating information sharing among chemists, toxicologist, public health officials, regulators, affected communities (industry, consumers, buyers)
