Oil Spill Program

LDWF’s Oil Spill Program is responsible for state-wide oil spill response, planning, NRDA (Natural Resource Damage Assessment), and Restoration.

Within the context of an oil spill, LDWF is responsible for the protection, rescue and rehabilitation of impacted wildlife, including developing plans that “provide for coordinated, immediate and effective protection, rescue and rehabilitation of, and minimization of risk of injury to, fish, and wildlife resources and the habitat on which they depend...” which reflects the Department’s broader mission statement. LDWF’s designated responsibilities are statutorily mandated under the Louisiana Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act (LOSPRA), L.R.S. 30:2451 et seq., Article IX, Section 1 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, and L.R.S. 56:1 et seq., the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the National Contingency Plan (NCP) (40 C.F.R) and the Interagency Natural Resource Damage Assessment Memorandum of Agreement effective 03/13/2000

Documenting Impacts

LDWF documents impacts to wildlife, fisheries, and habitat associated with an oil spill (or substantial threat of an oil spill). Should injured wildlife be encountered in association with a spill, LDWF may request organizations associated with the incident (both the responsible party and response agencies) to provide wildlife rehabilitation services.

Assessing Impacts

LDWF and other trustees evaluate the short and long-term impacts associated with each spill. They mainly rely upon response documentation (described above) but may also collect additional time-sensitive information to help determine the extent of oil spill impacts. This process, known as Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA), can be critical in deciding how to restore impacted natural resources.

Restoring Resources and Lost Uses

Natural resource restoration aims to return damaged natural resources to the condition they would have been in had the spill not occurred and compensate the public for lost use of those resources. There are various means to accomplish this, including restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, and acquisition of equivalent natural resources.

Report an Oil Spill

If you see spilled oil, you are required by law to call both of the following toll-free numbers:

• 877.925.6595 (24-hour Louisiana Emergency Hazardous Material Hotline)
• 800.424.8802 (24-hour National Response Center)

By reporting any spills encountered to these numbers, you will be notifying all State and Federal Agency personnel that oversee oil spill response.

Report Oiled Wildlife

If you encounter or capture oiled wildlife contact LDWF’s Oil Spill Hotline # 337-735-8677

• If you capture oiled wildlife, call the hotline immediately, and additional guidance will be provided.
• DO NOT attempt to wash or rehabilitate oiled wildlife.
• DO NOT bring oiled wildlife to a local wildlife rehabilitation organization; they are not equipped to handle or treat oiled wildlife.
• Keep wildlife in a well-ventilated container, out of direct sunlight, and in a warm location.