Calhoun County News

More than 465 response contractors continued work today along the shores of Mustang and South Matagorda Islands and Padre Island National Seashore, employing conventional clean-up methods with rakes, shovels and buckets. A 9-mile stretch of shoreline along Matagorda Island is a primary emphasis of these crews today. “Federal and state wildlife agencies continue to be focused on protecting these sensitive areas for the benefit of wildlife and are working closely to coordinate with our partners in the cleanup operations,” said Nancy Brown, Public Outreach Specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. As of sunset on Wednesday, the Unified Command report that a total of 119…

Representatives of the Unified Command responding to a March 22 oil spill will join community leaders in an informational session on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Port O’Connor Elementary School, 508 Monroe Avenue. Officials from the United States Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, Kirby Inland Marine, Texas Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, NOAA, and Texas Department of Health Services will join representatives from Calhoun County government and the Chamber of Commerce in updating the community. “We are pleased to be invited to meet with local residents and business owners and appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions or concerns they may have,” said Incident Commander Randal S. Ogryzdiak. texascityyresponse.com

In April, the State of Illinois will take delivery of the new river ferry for crossing the Illinois River between Grafton and Brussels Township in Illinois' Calhoun County. A 120- by 35-ft. barge, capable of carrying 24 cars, a couple of legal-highway-limit tractor trailer rigs or the equivalent, will be moved by a towboat. The 56- by 18-ft. tow boat will be powered by a pair of Cummins 6CTA-8.3M main engines each delivering 250 hp at 1,800 rpm. An interesting ball and socket system will link the tow boat and the barge. Extending out from the mid point of the downstream side of the barge, a structure is linked to a similar structure from mid-ship on the towboat's bow. The tow boat is made up to the barge by a ball and socket on these structures.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi will assess safety and security issues associated with liquefied natural gas tankers traveling in the Matagorda Ship Channel in order to make a recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Calhoun County. The Coast Guard received official notification of Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s plans on March 14, 2005. "We plan to work very closely with local officials, members of our Harbor Safety Committee and the Area Maritime Security Committee in evaluating this proposal," said Captain Jake Korn, Coast Guard Captain of the Port at Sector Corpus Christi. FERC is responsible for authorizing the siting, construction, and operation of onshore LNG facilities.

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi will assess safety and security issues associated with liquefied natural gas tankers traveling in the Matagorda Ship Channel in order to make a recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Calhoun County. The Coast Guard received official notification of Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s plans on March 14, 2005. "We plan to work very closely with local officials, members of our Harbor Safety Committee and the Area Maritime Security Committee in evaluating this proposal," said Captain Jake Korn, Coast Guard Captain of the Port at Sector Corpus Christi. FERC is responsible for authorizing the siting, construction, and operation of onshore LNG facilities.

ST. LOUIS - More than 4,000 Coast Guardsmen continue to save lives and assess the damage to waterways, aids to navigation, the environment and maritime transportation system infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Rita. To date, the Coast Guard has rescued 120 people imperiled by flood waters and has medically evacuated two others from hospitals in the hurricane-impacted area. Coast Guard rescuers continue to work closely with local and state officials as well as the Department of Defense, to determine the number of people in need of rescue and to ensure help is delivered as swiftly as possible. Two Disaster Response Units (DRUs) were dispatched to the Lake Livingston, Texas, area while three more DRUs were deployed to Port Arthur, Texas, to aid in relief efforts.