Ask a Responder: Q&A with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife snorkeling oil scout resource advisor

Sam Patten is a resource advisor with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, he explains the objective of a Snorkel Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team at Fort Pickens, Fla.

Snorkel SCAT teams search for evidence of oil below the water’s surface.

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U.S. Coast Guard video and photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Littlejohn.

Q: What is your name and where are we?

A: My name is Sam Patten and were at Fort Pickens, Pensacola Beach, Fla.

Q: Who do you work for and what is your job here?

A: Im a resource advisor for the sensitive lands division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. My job is to make sure there is no damage done to sensitive lands here as a result of cleanup efforts.

Q: What is going on today?

A: We are monitoring the progress of a snorkel Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Team (SCAT).

Q: What is Snorkel SCAT?

A: A team that uses snorkeling as a method to find evidence of oil below the waters surface rather than oil that has already washed up on shore.

Q: Have they been able to find oil underwater here?

A: Yes. Oil has been found in 6-8 feet of water, including some fairly sizeable bands.

Q: Are tar balls still being observed here and if so, what do they look like?

A: Yes, but they are much smaller than we were seeing here before; roughly the size of your pinky fingernail. There are fewer tar balls than before and they are widely dispersed.

Q: How do you think the oil spill has impacted the local community and vice versa?

A: The cleanup has provided jobs and the local workers have stepped up and take pride in cleaning up their beaches. Their dedication reflects that they feel these beaches are theirs and they are delighted to be part of the cleanup operations.