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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Molly Dorozenski, Media Officer, Greenpeace, + 1 917-864-3724 direct; molly.dorozenski@greenpeace.org
Joe Smyth, Media Officer, Greenpeace, +1 831-566-5647; joe.smyth@greenpeace.org

First Reports of Oil at Port Eads, Mainland Louisiana

Greenpeace takes samples and documents oil on the shore

WASHINGTON

Today, Greenpeace found the first traces of oil onshore at Port Eads, the southernmost tip of Louisiana. Dan Howells, Deputy Director of Campaigns at Greenpeace, and conservation specialist Rick Steiner collected samples of the oil on the beach and documented what they saw with photographs. The oil onshore at Port Eads shows that it is reaching the mouth of the Mississippi, putting even more species of Louisiana's coastal habitats at risk-including animal and plant species that thrive only in these wetlands.

The oil was found both in globules scattered on the beach and within the wet marshy areas as discoloration and a sheen on the marsh water. Oil had collected on reeds, which prevent erosion of the coastline, highlighting more evidence of this disaster.

"While most of the environmental damage so far from this spill has been out of sight, the oil we saw today on the southern delta of the Mississippi River is a sad indicator of what is in store for the shoreline ecosystem," said conservation specialist Rick Steiner, who is internationally recognized for his work during Exxon Valdez oil spill.

"As BP scrambles to stop millions of gallons of oil flowing into the Gulf, oil is washing up in the irreplaceable wetlands at the southern tip of Louisiana. Immeasurable damage has been done. This is an urgent reminder that President Obama and Congress must immediately stop plans for any new offshore drilling including pending plans in the arctic," said Deputy Campaigns Director Dan Howells.

Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.

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