Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana

The Louisiana Gulf Response Involvement Team (GRIT) and BP planned and implemented a beach clean-up at the Grand Isle State Park in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on May 15, 2010.  The purpose of the project was to (1) engage volunteers in a safe environment in oil spill response efforts, (2) remove natural and unnatural debris from the potential oil impact zone to reduce quantity and complexity of oil spill clean-up efforts. 

GRIT was represented on-site by staff members from Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and National Wildlife Federation (NWF).  Additional assistance was provided by staff of the Louisiana Serve Commission. 

Volunteers were deployed to pick up, bag and properly dispose of unnatural debris and rake natural debris to higher elevations above the high tide line.   GRIT supplied two ATVs and numerous volunteers donated the use of their four-wheelers and trailers.  We also had support from a BP contractor (TAS) in the form of a large ATV and trailer to transport debris and volunteers.  We removed most of the organic debris from the high-tide line at the park and raked it out of the reach of the waves.  Grand Isle State Park arranged to use their tractor to consolidate that material further up on the beach the following morning.  All anthropogenic debris was bagged, transported by ATV and trailer to the State Park dumpsters.   We were visited by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department, the US Coast Guard, a SCAT team, and the LA Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries.  Everyone was supportive of our efforts.

Oil spill impact occurred in this area just days after our clean-up event.  All debris that was removed did not have to be handled as oiled waste, hastening oil cleanup and reducing the costs to the responsible party.