Scalise Visits Belle Chasse Emergency Operations Center

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Washington, DC -- (Belle Chasse, La.) – Congressman Steve Scalise released the following statement today after meeting with Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser at the Belle Chasse Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and also speaking with Jefferson Parish President Steve Theriot.

“The recurring theme I heard over and over again from Billy and Steve is that more needs to be done to prevent this oil from entering our marsh,” Scalise said.  “It seems like the tone taken by federal officials and BP is to treat this disaster as a cleanup effort rather than making sure the oil does not devastate our coast in the first place.  That approach is unacceptable and jeopardizes our marshes for years to come.  Once this oil hits our marshes, it could take decades to fully restore our fragile ecosystem.  Federal officials and BP must start listening to the people who live and work in our marshes everyday, and work with them to create an effective barrier against this oil slick while we still have time.”

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Contact: Stephen Bell
202-226-9113