Coast Guard will start burning some Gulf slick oil

[Are_grits_groceries]

NEW ORLEANS -- Authorities will begin burning some of the thickest oil in a massive slick from a rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana.

A Coast Guard spokesman says the burn is expected to begin Wednesday morning.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Prentice Danner says fire-resistant containment booms will be used to corral some of the thickest oil on surface, which will then be ignited. It was unclear how large an area would be set on fire or how far from shore the first fire would be set.

The slick is the result of oil leaking from the site of last week's huge explosion of a deep water oil rig that burned and sank. Eleven workers are missing and presumed dead. Oil continues to spill undersea, where robot submarines have been unable to cap the well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/28/AR2010042800368.html?hpid=moreheadlines

The hits just keep on coming. This is what the end of the world really looks like. It's happening before our eyes.

[malaise]

1. I just hope the Coast Guard men and women

stay safe.

[shraby]

2. After lighting it afire, hope also that there are no high winds

that would push it toward shore..nothing like a huge fire pushed against the shoreline to cause a larger catastrophe.

[Myrina]

3. ... do we have FEMA approved gas masks along the south coast?

:wow: What an ecological nightmare.

[spanone]

4. great, we've fucked the gulf, now let's fuck the air.

[ensho]

7. I meant my post to be in reply to yours

nt

[Oregone]

5. This is 3-D Chess. They got that oil slick right where they want it

[ensho]

6. I was thinking the same - being downwind will be a lot of fun

nt