From: Deepwater Horizon Response External Affairs - Statement On Concerns About Recently Enacted Safety Zones

5th Jul 2010 03:22

DATE: July 04, 2010 20:56:58 CST Statement on concerns about recently enacted safety zones Key contact numbers Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816 * Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511 * Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: (866) 279-7983 or (877) 847-7470 * Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858 * Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401 Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center Phone: (713) 323-1670(713) 323-1671 The following is a statement from Megan Moloney, spokesperson for BP Deepwater Horizon Response National Incident Commander Adm. Thad Allen, on concerns that recently enacted safety zones will limit media access to oil spill locations. "Since the beginning of the response to the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, federal agencies have worked to provide timely and factual information to the public, make personnel available to the media, and provide access to areas and operations the press could not reach on their own. At the same time, we have directed BP and its contractors to not restrict public access unless safety or security is jeopardized while recognizing that private individuals hired by contractors cannot be compelled to speak to the press. The results of this openness speak for themselves: federal officials have conducted hundreds of daily press briefings and conference calls, conducted thousands of interviews, and posted thousands of documents and images of, not only this historic response, but also the tragic impacts of this continuing oil leak. In addition, response assets have provided press access to field operations nearly 700 times during the last two months, including those areas hardest hit by this tragedy. While a handful of sporadic instances have occurred where members of the media were turned away from certain areas by private entities, local law enforcement or non-leadership personnel, the constant stream of images on television and the robust amount of information available is testament to the fact these instances are the exception, not the rule. Last week, Coast Guard Captains of the Port in the region put in place limited, small waterside safety zones around a protective boom and those vessels actively responding to this spill. This was required due to recent instances of the protective boom being vandalized or broken by non-response vessels getting too close. These 20-meter zones are only slightly longer than the distance from a baseball pitcher's mound to home plate. This distance is insignificant when gathering images. In fact, these zones, which do not target the press, can and have been opened for reporters as required. It is unfortunate that the safety zones are needed at all, but the responsibility of officials is to wage the most effective and safest response possible while best supporting factual and open reporting. That will continue until BP caps its leaking well and the cleanup is complete." For information about the response effort, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 04, 2010 22:22 ET (02:22 GMT)