***UPDATE***Media Advisory: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to continue public hearing for the joint investigation into the Deepwater Horizon incident

Who: The MMS/USCG Joint Investigation of the Deepwater Horizon Incident.

What: Formal Joint Investigation Public Hearing

Where: Radisson New Orleans Airport, 2150 Veterans Blvd., Kenner, LA - Bayou Meeting Room

When: May 26-29, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) daily.

NEW ORLEANS – There will be a Public Hearing for the joint MMS/USCG investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion, fire, pollution, and sinking of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon, with multiple loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010.

The joint investigation will have the powers of both agencies, will be co-chaired and staffed by representatives of both agencies, and, for the public hearing, shall follow the policies and procedures for a U.S Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation contained in 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 4 and U.S. Coast Guard policy (available on the joint investigation Web site: www.deepwaterinvestigation.com ).

Media coverage of the hearing proceedings is permitted by the Joint Investigation Co-Chairmen and is consistent with the proper and orderly functioning of the investigation. 

There will be morning and afternoon sessions and a media pool will be in effect for the duration of the hearing.  Media interested in attending will be required to create and implement the media pool. 

A media outlet interested in attending the hearing will be required to work with its fellow outlets to create and implement a media pool and submit the following information to deepwaterjointinvestigation@gmail.com prior to the commencement of the hearing and no later than 2 p.m. on May 24, 2010.  For more information regarding media pooling, call 504-671-2019.

The USCG and MMS are NOT responsible for creating the media pool.  It is the responsibility of the media outlets interested in attending to create the pool and submit the following info by 2 p.m. on May 24, 2010.  Info will then be published on the Deepwater Joint Investigation Web site.

Media pool information required for submission:

• The subject, date, and session of the proceeding.  Morning sessions are 8 a.m. until noon and afternoon sessions are 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
• A description of the type (audio, video, or still photography) of planned media;
• Designated media representative(s) covering each session as decided by the interested media outlets; and,
• An affirmation that the request shall abide by the rules set forth by the Joint Investigation Co-Chairmen (available on the Joint Investigation Web site: www.deepwaterinvestigation.com).

 Media pools must conform to the following allocations for coverage:

• Broadcast camera crews – 3 (A crew is considered 1 camera, 1 audio and can be any combination of National or Local affiliates.)
• Still photographers - 2 (Any combination of national or local affiliates)
• Radio - 2 (Any combination of national or local affiliates)
• Print journalists - no reservations needed.  Space is limited and admittance is not guaranteed. 

B-roll of hearings will be available on the www.deepwaterinvestigation.com Web site within a week after this set of hearings concludes.

No transcripts will be made available during the hearings.  The final transcript will be published in conjunction with the findings of the Joint Investigation team in January 2011.

For Deepwater Horizon joint investigation information:www.deepwaterinvestigation.com

For Deepwater Horizon oil spill response information: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com

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