Jack's Blog
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Posted by
Spokesbloggette
on
June 25, 2010
NOAA provides coordinated scientific weather and biological response services to federal, state and local organizations. NOAA spill specialists are advising the U.S. Coast Guard on cleanup options as well as advising all affected federal, state and local partners on sensitive marine resources at risk in this area of the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA continues to generate daily trajectories for the nearshore surface oil. According to the latest trajectories, winds are forecast to be predominantly easterly (E/ESE) through Sunday at speeds of 7-15 kts. The northern edge of the slick continues to move northwest threatening the barrier islands of Mississippi/Alabama and the Florida Panhandle east to Freeport. Under these persistent easterly winds, the Chandeleur Islands, Breton Sound and the Mississippi Delta are also increasingly threatened by shoreline contacts in this 72-hour forecast period. Models suggest westward currents developing south of the Delta may begin moving oil west towards Terrebonne Bay. NOAA's current 24 hour trajectory map is available here. NOAA's current 48 hour trajectory map is available here. NOAA's current 72 hour trajectory map is available here. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service did not modify the boundaries of the fishery closure yesterday. For more information, please visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm. To help determine the type and amount of restoration needed to compensate the public for harm to natural resources as a result of the spill, a Natural Resource Damage Assessment will be conducted by NOAA and our co-trustee agencies. Although many agencies are involved in this process, NOAA is a lead federal trustee for coastal and marine natural resources, including marine and migratory fish, endangered species, marine mammals and their habitats. The focus currently is to assemble existing data on resources and their habitats and collect baseline (pre-spill impact) data. Data on oiled resources and habitats are also being collected. NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations is supporting the response work in the Gulf of Mexico with NOAA-owned ships and aircraft. Currently, NOAA has deployed four NOAA owned vessels in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Posted by
Jack's Interns
on
June 24, 2010
My internship with Mr. Kingston's office has been extremely rewarding. I have had the opportunity to do so many exciting things like touring the Capitol Dome and I am constantly learning new things about life on the Hill. By far my favorite experience involves the opportunity to attend Mr. Kingston's Theme Team meetings. Theme Team is a weekly round table discussion between members of Congress and a guest speaker. This off-the-record meeting begins with the speaker discussing whatever he or she wishes and is followed by open discussion by the attending members. Also permitted to attend Theme Team are Hill staff and interns. So far, I have attended meetings where David Keene, David Brooks, Fred Barnes, and Ari Fleischer were the speakers. It is so educational to hear their outside perspectives on issues and the members' reactions to those perspectives. Theme Team is a great opportunity for learning, as I am able to listen to everything the congressmen and congresswomen say. It is such a privilege to hear the concerns and opinions of the members of Congress in this environment.
Posted by
Jack's Interns
on
June 24, 2010
NOAA continues to generate daily trajectories for the nearshore surface oil. According to the latest trajectories, moderate SE winds (8-12 knots) are forecast to have an easterly component (E/ESE/ENE) through Saturday. Trajectories indicate developing westward currents within the Mississippi Bight region will begin to inhibit further movement of the slick to the east. Coastal regions between Ship Island, Mississippi and Panama City, Florida are threatened by shoreline contacts within this 72-hour forecast period. Under persistent SE and E winds, the Chandeleur Islands, Breton Sound and the Mississippi Delta are increasingly threatened by shoreline contacts in this forecast period. Available here is the 72 hour trajectory map prepared on June 23. Also available online is an updated Deepwater Horizon 24 Hour Trajectory Map and an updated Deepwater Horizon 48 Hour Trajectory Map. Yesterday, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service slightly retracted the closure boundaries in several places to reopen areas previously closed based on trajectory data but which were not impacted by oil. The closure measures 78,597 sq mi (203,564 sq km) and covers about 33% of the Gulf of Mexico EEZ. For more information, please visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm. To help determine the type and amount of restoration needed to compensate the public for harm to natural resources as a result of the spill, a Natural Resource Damage Assessment will be conducted by NOAA and our co-trustee agencies. Although many agencies are involved in this process, NOAA is a lead federal trustee for coastal and marine natural resources, including marine and migratory fish, endangered species, marine mammals and their habitats. The focus currently is to assemble existing data on resources and their habitats and collect baseline (pre-spill impact) data. Data on oiled resources and habitats are also being collected. NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations is supporting the response work in the Gulf of Mexico with NOAA-owned ships and aircraft. Currently, NOAA has deployed four NOAA owned vessels in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Posted by
Spokesbloggette
on
June 23, 2010
NOAA Fisheries is slightly retracting the closure boundaries in several places to reopen areas which we previously closed based on trajectory data but which were not impacted by oil. The most significant of these adjustments will reopen the area along the southern boundary which we closed Monday, June 21, based on the 72-hour trajectory. To view the new closure map click here. The new closure will become effective at 6 PM Eastern Time tonight. The closure measures 78,597 sq mi (203,564 sq km) and covers about 33% of the Gulf of Mexico EEZ, compared to the June 16 closure comprising 86,985 sq mi (225,290 sq km), or about 36% of the Gulf of Mexico EEZ.
Posted by
Press Staff
on
June 23, 2010
Calls on department to continue scientifically-based decision making Washington, D.C.— Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), the Ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after an announcement by the Department of Transportation that would block a proposed ban on peanuts aboard commercial airlines: “No scientific evidence exists to justify the proposed restriction on peanuts,” said Kingston. “I applaud the Secretary LaHood and the Department of Transportation for this decision and hope that science, not emotion, will continue determining the course with respect to this case.” While the DOT had proposed banning peanuts aboard commercial airlines on June 8, existing statute requires the Department submit a peer-reviewed scientific study to Congress before taking such action. Without a determination that passengers could suffer severe reactions to peanuts or peanut-products, any such ban would be prohibited.
Posted by
Spokesbloggette
on
June 23, 2010
Update on NOAA's Efforts for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico June 23, 2010 - 10:00am NOAA continues to generate daily trajectories for the nearshore surface oil. According to the latest trajectories, winds are forecast to be predominantly onshore (SE) through Wednesday at speeds of 5-12 knots, then become ENE on Thursday. Trajectories indicate developing westward currents within the Mississippi Bight region will begin to inhibit further movement of the slick to the east. Coastal regions between Horn Island, Mississippi and Panama City, Florida are threatened by shoreline contacts within this forecast period. Under persistent SE winds, the Chandeleur Islands, Breton Sound and the Mississippi Delta are also threatened. Deepwater Horizon 72 Hour Trajectory Map. The 72 hour trajectory map prepared on June 22. Also available online is an updated Deepwater Horizon 24 Hour Trajectory Map and an updated Deepwater Horizon 48 Hour Trajectory Map. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service did not modify the boundaries of the fishery closure yesterday. For more information, please visit this website. NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is supporting the response work in the Gulf with NOAA-owned ships and aircraft. Currently, NOAA has deployed four NOAA owned vessels in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is underway conducting water sampling and acoustic imaging. The ship will dock briefly on June 21 to resupply and then resume its mission. The Pascagoula, Mississippi-based NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter arrived in Mobile, Alabama, June 21 for repairs. Gordon Gunter has been conducting marine mammal surveys since June 15 and plans to resume surveys June 23. NOAA Ship Delaware II is currently enroute to the Gulf of Mexico. The ship will depart from Key West, FL on June 25 for a seafood survey in the Gulf. NOAA Ship Oregon II will depart from Pascagoula, Mississippi, on June 22 for a shrimp trawl and plankton survey in the Gulf OMAO’s P-3 aircraft, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, flew a 9 hour Loop Current flight on Friday, June 18, over and in the vicinity of the Loop Current. 70 expendables were deployed to measure sub-surface currents, temperature, and salinity profiles in the water column over a 46,000 square mile area in the Gulf. OMAO’s King Air aircraft is currently based in New Orleans, Louisiana, flying Coastal Mapping missions along the shoreline areas. The mission flights started May 1, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined. OMAO has a Twin Otter aircraft currently based in Mobile, Alabama, instrumented with multi-spectral scanner to obtain information on oil density and thickness. This information is used to direct boom and skimmer operations, provide information for model validation and initialization, measure effectiveness of dispersant, and calibrate AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer) sensor on NASA aircraft. Mission flights started May 1, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined. OMAO has a second Twin Otter aircraft currently based in Mobile, Alabama, used for synoptic surveillance (observations of marine mammals, whale, turtles) in the area of oil. The aircraft is also supporting NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement in their efforts to monitor the Fishery Closure Boundary, and NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration’s scientific support coordinator when required. The mission flights started April 27, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined.
Posted by
Spokesbloggette
on
June 23, 2010
Update as of June 21, 2010
Posted by
Press Staff
on
June 22, 2010
Kingston decries move as ‘lack of leadership’ Washington, D.C.— Following an announcement today by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) that Congress will not pass a budget this year, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA) decried House Democrats for their lack of leadership in tackling the nation’s growing debt problem. “One of the most fundamental duties of governing is the good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Kingston. “With working American families struggling to pay their bills, that task is important now more than ever. By failing to complete a budget this year, House Democrats have shown an utter lack of leadership and have provided another example of just how out-of-touch they really are with the American people.” The House has not failed to pass a budget since the modern budgeting process was adopted in 1974. In normal practice, a budget resolution is an agreement between the House and Senate on a budget plan for the upcoming year and at least four subsequent fiscal years. Hoyer in 2006, then the Democratic Whip, called enacting a budget, “the most basic responsibility of governing.” Congressman John Spratt (D-S.C.), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, put it more succinctly when he said, “if you can’t budget, you can’t govern.” “We’ve got a national debt of more than $13 trillion and no end in sight to Washington’s addiction to spending,” Kingston said. “We cannot continue borrowing on the backs of our children to avoid making tough decisions today. This isn’t about partisan politics. This is about doing what we were elected to do – to represent the people, to lead and to make the same tough decisions working families face every day.”
Posted by
Spokesblogger
on
June 22, 2010
Update on NOAA's Efforts for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Gulf of Mexico - June 22, 2010 - 9:30am NOAA continues to generate daily trajectories for the nearshore surface oil. Overflights are also conducted on a daily basis (weather permitting) to provide field verification of model trajectories. According to the latest trajectories, winds are forecast to continue to be 12 knots or less and primarily from the E to SE, through Wednesday. Trajectories indicate continued slow movement of the slick to the east. Coastal regions between Dauphin Island, Alabama and Panama City, Florida continue to be threatened by shoreline contacts within this 72-hour forecast period. More persistent SE winds later in this forecast period will increase the threat of shoreline impacts to the Chandeleur Islands and the Mississippi Delta during the latter half of the coming week. Deepwater Horizon 72 Hour trajectory map prepared , June 21
Also available online is an Updated Deepwater Horizon 24 Hour Trajectory Map and an Updated Deepwater Horizon 48 Hour Trajectory Map. The offshore trajectory maps showing oil interacting with the Loop Current have been temporarily suspended because the northern end of the Loop Current has been pinched off into a large eddy (Eddy Franklin) so there is no clear path for oil to enter the Loop Current from the source. Also, there have been no reports of recoverable oil in the Loop Current or Eddy Franklin and the oil has moved to the North and away from the Eddy Franklin. We will continue to monitor the area with overflights, vessel observations, and satellite analysis. When the threat of shoreline impacts to the Florida Keys increases, we will resume producing the offshore trajectory maps. Yesterday, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service modified the northeastern fishery closure boundary and also expanded a portion of the southern boundary. The modified closure measures 86,985 sq mi (225,290 sq km) and covers about 36% of the Gulf of Mexico EEZ, compared to the June 16 closure comprising 80,806 sq mi (209,286 sq km), or about 33% of the Gulf of Mexico EEZ. For more information, please visit: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm. NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is supporting the response work in the Gulf with NOAA-owned ships and aircraft. Currently, NOAA has deployed four NOAA owned vessels in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson is underway conducting water sampling and acoustic imaging. The ship will dock briefly on June 21 to resupply and then resume its mission. The Pascagoula, Mississippi-based NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter arrived in Mobile, Alabama, June 21 for repairs. Gordon Gunter has been conducting marine mammal surveys since June 15 and plans to resume surveys June 23. NOAA Ship Delaware II is currently enroute to the Gulf of Mexico. The ship will depart from Key West, FL on June 25 for a seafood survey in the Gulf. NOAA Ship Oregon II will depart from Pascagoula, Mississippi, on June 22 for a shrimp trawl and plankton survey in the Gulf OMAO’s P-3 aircraft, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, flew a 9 hour Loop Current flight on Friday, June 18, over and in the vicinity of the Loop Current. 70 expendables were deployed to measure sub-surface currents, temperature, and salinity profiles in the water column over a 46,000 square mile area in the Gulf. OMAO’s King Air aircraft is currently based in New Orleans, Louisiana, flying Coastal Mapping missions along the shoreline areas. The mission flights started May 1, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined. OMAO has a Twin Otter aircraft currently based in Mobile, Alabama, instrumented with multi-spectral scanner to obtain information on oil density and thickness. This information is used to direct boom and skimmer operations, provide information for model validation and initialization, measure effectiveness of dispersant, and calibrate AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer) sensor on NASA aircraft. Mission flights started May 1, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined. OMAO has a second Twin Otter aircraft currently based in Mobile, Alabama, used for synoptic surveillance (observations of marine mammals, whale, turtles) in the area of oil. The aircraft is also supporting NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement in their efforts to monitor the Fishery Closure Boundary, and NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration’s scientific support coordinator when required. The mission flights started April 27, and are ongoing with a final mission date to be determined.
Posted by
Jack
on
June 22, 2010
Last week, President Obama and Vice President Biden embarked on what they’ve dubbed the “Summer of Recovery” – the Administration’s latest public relations campaign to sell their failed economic “stimulus” to the American people. The new education scheme was kicked off on Friday with a visit by President Obama to celebrate the start of the 10,000th road project funded by the “stimulus.” Ironically, the visit forced hundreds of workers into unpaid leave. With all due respect, Mr. President, the American people do not need to be educated about the stimulus – they already know just what it’s done. Since the stimulus was passed, 2,253,000 Americans have lost their jobs. In order to meet the President’s promise of 3.5 million jobs created by the end of this year, 5,753,000 would need to be created - that’s an unprecedented 821,857 jobs per month. Of the jobs that actually were created, 399,000 were government jobs as opposed to the 2,652,000 shed by the private sector. If it’s any wonder that the “stimulus” is having a hard time creating jobs, take a look at a few of the projects being funded:
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St. Simons Island
Valdosta State University
Broxton Rocks
Jekyll Island
