Freemason Island Hit By Gulf Oil Spill 2010: Photos, Map

by Amy Judd | May 6, 2010 at 09:00 am

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Freemason Island Has Been Hit By the Gulf Oil Spill 2010 and Coast Guard Mobilizing to Protect It

Freemason Island in Louisiana has been hit by a massive patch of oil from the Gulf Oil Spill 2010 and now two coast guard teams have been mobilized to place protective booms around the oil to prevent the oil washing up on the shore any more.

It is not known how much oil has reached the shores of Freemason Island, that is part of the Chandeleur Islands off Louisiana's St. Bernard Parish.

This oil hitting Freemason Island is the first confirmation of oil hitting the shores of Louisiana in mass quantity, even though trace amounts have been reported off other shorelines over the past week.

Freemason Island (photo) is not inhabited, but would be an area used by wildlife, and that is what authorities are worried most about at this time. Oil being found here is also confirmation that the massive oil slick is moving closer to shore.

BP Reaches Deepwater Horizon Rig With Container to Contain Leak

BP has now reached the oil rig and are going to attempt to lower the container on to the ruptured pipe later on Thursday according to spokesperson Mark Salt:

"If all goes according to plan, we should begin the process of processing the fluid and stop the spilling to the sea on Monday," said Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer.

But he added: "It's very complex, and it will likely have challenges along the way."

If this is successful, BP will try the same technique on a bigger leak, but it could take several days to see if this method will be worth the effort.