Oil Spill Cleanup Official Says Plentiful Packgen Boom Didn't Pass Initial Quality Control Test

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 6-13-10 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

An oil spill response team spokesperson said miles of Packgen boom in a Maine warehouse couldn't be used because it didn't pass an initial quality control test.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

There's been a lot of criticism circulating throughout the web -- and even throughout the conservative blogosphere (here and here)-- about the apparent failure by Obama Administration officials to take advantage of warehouses in Maine that are reportedly full of boom manufactured by Packgen. Though I'm the last person anyone would expect to see defending the Obama Administration, I think some of the criticism might be misplaced.

I base my conclusion above upon information I received via e-mail from Navy Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Hoeft, Deepwater Horizon Response spokesperson, helps explain why officials involved in the cleanup efforts -- likely BP officials and not "Obamatrons" -- did not jump to take advantage of the reported abundance of boom in the Pine Tree State:

The boom manufactured by Packgen did not pass an initial quality control test. Boom is subjected to great wear and tear when placed in the water and must be frequently tended. In order to retain its effectiveness boom must be of high quality. Once Packgen's boom passes inspection, the company can be considered as a source for supplying boom to the largest oil spill response operation in U.S. history. In the meantime, suitable boom is being identified and obtained quickly and there is currently 459,000 feet of boom stored in the region in addition to the 2.24 million feet deployed.

Conservative friends, don't take this the wrong way. I remain convinced the Obama Administration has handled this disaster as badly as any disaster has ever been handled and will likely continue to do so. At the same time, however, we must remember that there are so many other areas of failure upon which we can focus.

[ABQHispConservative]

Then why the dog and pony show about this. If this were the case, someone should have said something from the get go, instead of letting the story go on. I’m sorry, but this explanation sounds fishy.

[UCANSEE2]

“Boom is subjected to great wear and tear when placed in the water and must be frequently tended.”

So it would work, it just might not be ‘reusable’ for the normal 2-3 deployment lifespan other booms had. Correct?

[Sacajaweau]

i agree....sounds fishy...particularly when we're talking standards...something is better than nothing...

And what about the simmers from other countries...what's the excuse for that??? A law that can be lifted by the Prez.

He wants as much damage as possible.

At some point, he might realize that AMERICANS have heavy investments in BP.

Of course, Americans had investments in GM, too.

[blackbart.223]

"Then why the dog and pony show about this. If this were the case, someone should have said something from the get go, instead of letting the story go on. I’m sorry, but this explanation sounds fishy."

I hate to sound jaded but this story coming out now gives Obama someone else to blame come Tuesday. And it will be a blame fest from Obama. He needs to explain why is fiddling while Rome burns. I don't expect he will.

[Mamzelle]

So make it the “second string” boom!! (I’m calling BS, anyway, with all the foot-dragging and unresponsiveness thus far, I don’t exactly trust)

[Freddd]

So they went from ‘not knowing about it’, to it didn’t pass a test..

Smells like dead fish.

[Sacajaweau]

An engineer could likely tell quality in ten minutes. It’s like 600 count sheets vs 200 count. Gimme a break. So who IS providing all the boom???

[rawcatslyentist]

Oil Spill Cleanup Official Says Plentiful Packgen Boom Didn't Pass Initial Quality Control Test

1st test, how much kickback are you willing to pass to my donors?

[Tarpon]

Something is really fishy here ... they go up there and inspect the boom, declare it unacceptable, then go back up there to inspect the boom ...

Smells, because if it were unacceptable then why not just tell the company what the problem is so they can correct it and use their manufacturing capability to help solve the problem.

Mr incompetent probably sent lawyers up there to inspect the boom ...

[Crim]

Smells like bullshit.

[rolling_stone]

I don’t believe one word coming out of any part of the government these days. The employees are corrupted, intimidated and incompetent. If the boom was made by union workers or illegals I bet it would be ok.

[Robert A Cook PE]

No.

Even a moderately successful boom “that requires maintenance” is better than nothing.

This bureaucrat is hiding the government’s failure by citing - of course - bureaucratic standards.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

FYI: The spokesperson, whom I know, is a Navy officer detailed to serve on the response team. In short, I trust him. Do I trust the rest of the people on the response team (i.e., the Obamatrons)? Not on your life!

[dogcaller]

...so just let the goo contaminate the marshes.

[Sacajaweau]

I believe these booms come with service contracts so maybe it's the service that is lacking, i.e., booms isn't enough.

Think of other commodities....delivery and set-up...