一層無法辨識的油狀物質在3月20日時被沖上美國路易斯安那州的海岸。美國海岸防衛隊正聯合州政府及地方政府的相關單位，對遭污染的沿海進行清理和復原的工作。
這些油污的來源仍然不明，而海岸防衛隊正持續調查此次意外的原因。防衛隊在星期天時確認，此次油污並不是來自「深水地平線」油井。「深水地平線」在2010年4月20日爆炸，造成美國史上最嚴重的海面漏油事件。
海岸防衛隊在20日表示：「目前，我們認為這些黑色物質是來自密西西比河漲潮時所夾帶而下的大量沉澱物，它們可能經過人為疏浚工程進一步的攪動。」
不論此次事件的成因是什麼，身為聯邦現場專家小組的指揮，強納森‧波頓要求船隻盡量避開遭汙染的海域航行。他代表作出回應：「我們正與州單位和地方單位的伙伴共同合作，盡可能減輕這次事件對環境的任何衝擊，同時持續協助船隻的航行。」
海岸防衛隊組成了一隻海灣特攻小組。另一架直升機載著作業人員從海岸防衛隊的紐奧良航空基地起飛，以繼續進行空中調查。
目前，數個環境敏感地區已設有約一萬呎的圍堵措施和吸油圍欄，以預防油汙事件可能帶來的破壞。兩艘駁船和四艘除油船也正進行清除油污的工作，並且有另外兩艘船已準備好待命。
身為路易斯安那州溢油協調員辦公室代表，蘭道‧麥可吉姆斯表示「我們都在處理環境問題，並且關心海岸線所遭到的衝擊。同時，州政府也共同管理這次事件，確保所有資源和緊急應變人員處於統一應變的最佳狀態。」
美國溢油責任信託基金(U.S. Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund)也在19日開放。這筆基金是美國海岸防衛隊用以處理國家層級漏油事件的經費來源。
An unidentified oily substance began washing ashore on the Louisiana coast on Sunday, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard, with state and local agencies, to conduct clean up and recovery operations of tainted beaches.
A source of the oily substance has not yet been identified, and the Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident. The Coast Guard confirmed Sunday that oil is not coming from the Deepwater Horizon well that exploded on April 20, 2010, releasing the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
"At this point, the dark substance is believed to be caused by a tremendous amount of sediment being carried down the Mississippi River due to high water, possibly further agitated by dredging operations," the Coast Guard said Sunday.
Whatever the cause, Capt. Jonathan Burton, the federal on-scene coordinator for the response, is asking vessel traffic to avoid the spill area if they can. "We are working with our state and local partners to mitigate any further environmental impact while continuing to facilitate the safe movement of marine traffic to the fullest extent possible."
The Coast Guard activated its Gulf Strike Team. Another helicopter and crew was launched from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans to continue the aerial survey.
Today, approximately 10,000 feet of containment and sorbent boom have been pre-staged to prevent damage to environmentally sensitive areas. Two barge boats and four skimmer vessels are at work to remove the oily substance and another two are standing by.
"As we are all stewards of the environment and equally concerned with the impacts to our shorelines, the state is jointly managing this spill to ensure that all resources and emergency response personnel are best utilized in a unified response posture," said Randall McGimsey, a representative from the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office.
The U.S. Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund was opened on Saturday.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
