ABSTRACT

Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (PNR) experienced a gas well blowout on December 1, 1996 at Myette Point within a lacustrine delta in Louisiana's Atchafalaya basin. For a period of five days, gas condensate erupted from the well-head covering the surrounding bottomland hardwood forest. Over the next six weeks oil spill response contractors recovered gas condensate from access canals, distributary channels, and small ponds. The total volume spilled was estimated at 4700 barrels. The State of Louisiana issued a letter of intent to conduct a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) to determine a plan of restoration to the impacted bottomland hardwood forest. PNR worked cooperatively with Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (lead agency), Department of Environmental Quality, and the Oil Spill Coordinator's Office to conduct a cooperative NRDA. A Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team (SCAT) survey was conducted to map the surface oiling cover. A classification was developed by the NRDA team defining heavy (>50% cover), moderate (<50% cover), and light (only film) oiling classes. Using GPS technology, the NRDA team surveyed the spill area and mapped 164 acres of oiled forest broken into 3 classes: 106 acres of light, 29 acres of moderate, and 29 acres of heavy. The natural resource trustees determined the degree of injury based upon plant mortality of 10% for light, 50% for moderate, and 90% for heavy oiling classes during the winter survey (1997) for a total spill mortality of 51.2 acres. Based upon the early summer oiling classes during the winter survey (1977) for a total spill mortality of 51.2 acres. Based upon the early summer (1997) NRDA team survey, the mortality of the oiling classes was revised. PNR negotiated with the NRDA team and developed a plan to clear 30 acres of injured forest and plant a new forest of superior quality trees which was completed during the winter 1998. PNR working cooperatively and proactively with the natural resource trustees, started and completed the Myette Point NRDA in 14 months.