Monday, July 5, 2010

Criminal Penalties for Entering "Safety Zone"

A 65 foot "safety zone" has been established. Is this for our safety or theirs? Seems to me it would be a great way to make it difficult for the media to photograph and document the impacts of oil on land and wildlife.

"According to a news release from the Unified Command, violation of the "safety zone" rules can result in a civil penalty of up to $40,000, and could be classified as a Class D felony. Because booms are often placed more than 40 feet on the outside of islands or marsh grasses, the 65-foot rule could make it difficult to photograph and document the impacts of oil on land and wildlife, media representatives said.

"The safety zone has been put in place to protect members of the response effort, the installation and maintenance of oil containment boom, the operation of response equipment and protection of the environment by limiting access to and through deployed protective boom," the news release said."

Continue reading over at nola.com.

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