Skip to main content
Part of complete coverage on

National Guard available -- but only fraction used in spill cleanup

By Laurie Ure, CNN Pentagon Producer
A Louisiana National Guard helicopter assists in the oil spill area on Tuesday.
A Louisiana National Guard helicopter assists in the oil spill area on Tuesday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Pentagon has approved up to 17,500 Guard troops for spill cleanup
  • Governors in four states can call on Guard for clean-up work
  • Louisiana has most Guard troops on oil duty at 1,100
  • Federal government pays for Guard troops, with BP to cover that cost

Washington (CNN) -- While local officials are calling for more federal government -- specifically military -- help with the oil cleanup, only a fraction of thousands of authorized, federally funded National Guard troops have been put into service.

In an exclusive interview with CNN's Larry King Thursday, President Barack Obama defended the current federal endeavor, noting that the Coast Guard, under Adm. Thad Allen, is taking the lead and is itself a part of the military. Allen, he said, will get the resources he needs.

"If he says that there is equipment that's helpful for dealing with this problem, he will get it," Obama said. "What you don't want is a situation where everyone is stepping on each other and not doing the best possible job in coordination with the state and local levels."

The states do have access already to many more National Guard troops than they are using.

Last month, the Pentagon approved the use of up to 17,500 National Guard members to help in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill relief efforts, at the request of governors in four states. But only about 1,400 have been actively engaged.

In Louisiana, 1,100 of the 6,000 authorized National Guard have been deployed.

Alabama is using just 280 troops out of an authorized 3,000. Mississippi has called 70 Guard members into active duty out of an available 6,000, and Florida has only seven National Guard troops on oil-spill duty out of an authorized 2,500.

A Louisiana state spokesman said that the initial mobilization of the Guard has been small, but is increasing as more containment and clean-up projects are approved.

"There are different missions waiting for approval by the Coast Guard and BP," said Kyle Plotkin, spokesman for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, in an e-mail to CNN.

Video: Sight of oil-soaked birds 'sickening'
Video: Questions about Obama's response to spill
Video: Obama 'furious' over Gulf oil spill
RELATED TOPICS

"As those missions are approved, the National Guard would determine if additional resources in terms of Guardsmen are needed," said Plotkin.

The federal government has agreed to pay for National Guard troops used in federally approved projects. State governors can activate their respective National Guard troops, using state funds. The Pentagon has granted all state assistance requests received to date, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

BP, whose drilling rig caused the leak, is expected to pay the final tab.

The process begins when state governors request specific missions be carried out by the National Guard.

The Coast Guard's Allen, the government's point-person in charge the disaster response, reviews the request, then determines the level of resources needed, if any, for a given project.

He must also determine if the task is legitimate, like building berms or flying aircraft to spread dispersant, and that it is something the National Guard are suited to do.

Once Allen gives the OK, the request is sent to the National Guard Bureau to be fulfilled from the troops currently authorized by the Pentagon.

Jindal has requested missions such as filling in gaps to cut off oil from bays and marshes, and is "absolutely very happy about their incredible work," Plotkin said, referring to Guard troops.

"You see the air drops ... literally 4,000 bags of sand. You see what they're doing on the ground," Jindal said during a press conference Tuesday.

"This shows you it works ... this shows you the strategy will work."

CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report

Oil disaster: Tracking the numbers
Part of complete coverage on
Impact Your World: How to help
A number of organizations are recruiting volunteers to help clean up coastal areas
Depths of the disaster
Get the numbers, see the images and learn how the worst U.S. oil spill has changed lives, ruined economies and more.
iReport: Gulf journals
These stories help us look into the lives of the hardworking people of the Gulf as they watch this disaster take its toll.
Send your photos, videos
Is your area being affected by the spill? Help CNN track the oil slick and its effects on Gulf Coast communities and wildlife
Map: What's been hit
Interactive map locates oil sightings and stories
Daily developments
How big is the slick? What's being affected? What's being done?
Timeline
Track the major developments of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
Berms, booms, blowouts: Glossary
Breaking down the jargon of the disaster