Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood is flying over the outer islands of the Mississippi Gulf Coast today after spending Wednesday visiting claims offices and confronting claims managers with complaints from fishermen and other claimants. “We have been on the Coast gathering information from local officials, fishermen and residents regarding the claims process, problems with the ‘vessels of opportunity’ program, and what preventative measures might work to keep oil out of our back bays.  I conveyed the problems to President Obama on Monday,” said General Hood.

Meetings with claims managers have cleared the way for Consumer Protection investigators to assist claimants in the claim centers. Posters have been placed at the centers telling claimants who are having problems with the process to call the Attorney General’s Office at 228-386-4400 or 1-800-281-4418.

In addition, General Hood has asked the Polymer Science Department at the University of Southern Mississippi to test some of the preventative measures, such as the fabric fencing material designed to absorb oil and the oil absorbent placed in mesh baskets along the beach in Daphne, Alabama, to help local officials evaluate the effectiveness of these products.  Dr. Lockhead at USM immediately agreed to help.

On Monday, General Hood advised the President that the “vessels of opportunity” program was comprised of small boats incapable of communicating with other boats and aircraft in spotting oil slicks, and that these small vessels were taking the place of commercial fishermen, shrimpers and oystermen with communications gear and oil skimming training.  The President has ordered Admiral Allen to reevaluate the process by next week.

“We have urged BP to remove these inept vessels and pay claims to these fishermen immediately,” said General Hood.  “We have also asked them to make the ‘vessels of opportunity’ program available online as the Gulf
Coast attorneys general have made BP do for the other claimants.” Investigators in the Attorney General’s Office confirmed the complaints of the fishermen that the ‘vessels of opportunity’ program was not working.
When investigators called, they reached an answering machine. Messages left for BP were not returned.

Attorney General Hood has been touring the coast’s outer islands where he saw tar balls and equipment from the damaged oil rig floating in the water. He will fly over the spill area today.