June 1, Slidell, LA
St. Tammany Parrish held an Oil Spill Community Forum Tuesday evening. The Town Hall Meeting was held at Slidell (LA) High School with about 125 people in attendance. Several federal, state and local agencies were represented.

Ann Weaver, a NOAA program and training specialist, kicked off the program by introducing representatives of various government agencies and representatives from BP. Ms. Weaver immediately set the ground rules: no group presentations and no group questions. She also explained that all questions might not get an answer. “Please don’t think that we’re trying to hide something,”

Ann Weaver, NOAA Specialist

All agencies and BP were at tables set up around the perimeter of the cafeteria. Citizens would line up at each agency’s table to ask the questions. A gentleman spoke up and said he wanted to be able to hear other people’s questions. Ms. Weaver stated an emphatic “No!” Four leaders were introduced and they each spoke about a minute. After the introductions, the group was dispersed to go to each agency’s table to ask questions.

Hugh Depland, one of the BP representatives, told the group during his introduction, “If you’re angry, be angry. that’s O.K. I’d probably be angry too.” BP had three representatives on hand and each one was busy answering questions. One lady was demanding answers as to why BP was using the chosen dispersant when it had been banned in other countries. “It was readily available and is EPA approved,” was the answer given.

For more, see related stories:

BP Answers Questions at Town Hall Meet
Capt. Roger Laferriere Explains Where The Oil Is Going
Greg Lyssy, EPA Region 6, Monitors Air Quality