New Orleans Oil Spill on Mississippi

Coast Guard responders fly over the Mississippi to assess the extent of an oil spill July 23, 2008, down river from the collision.
Earlier that morning the 600-foot tanker Tintomara and the Mel Oliver tug and barge collided causing the barge to break in two and spill approximately 400,000 gallons of number 6 fuel oil.
The U.S. Coast Guard and other local, state and federal agencies are working to clean and contain the oil. New Orleans closed several water intake valves to keep the drinking water from becoming polluted.
U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Lippert