Vitter Confident More Boom to Arrive following Conversation with Allen

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today spoke with Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen about the increase in more oil containment barriers, known as “boom,” along Louisiana’s coast. This was the second of two conversations Vitter has had with Allen about the boom matter in the last few days. Following this evening’s call, Vitter expressed confidence that additional boom will be brought in to place along Louisiana’s coastline. “Admiral Allen and I had another very productive conversation this evening and the gap in boom-to-coastline ratio is closing,” said Vitter. “According Allen, we are very close to seeing more boom being brought in from anywhere it can be procured to help protect our coastline.”

Last Friday, Vitter wrote a letter to Allen expressing his frustration with the deficiency in boom for Louisiana compared to other Gulf states like Alabama and Mississippi. Based on rough estimates, one mile of boom had been deployed to Louisiana for every 13.4 miles of coastline within 200 miles of the ongoing oil leak.

Vitter noted that new estimates are much more encouraging with Alabama now having deployed one mile of boom for every 1.18 miles of coastline, Mississippi having deployed one mile of boom for every .85 miles of coastline and Louisiana and Florida having deployed one mile of boom for every 5.35 miles of coastlines. “I thank Admiral Allen for acting urgently in helping make sure that Louisiana gets its fair share boom since its coast is the closest to the spill site, and I hope he will announce soon when the additional protection will be delivered,” added Vitter.