Court Establishes 'Security Zone' Around Deepwater Horizon Wreckage

In response to motions made by the Department of Justice, the U.S. District Court in New Orleans issued a mandate to create a security boundary encompassing the Deepwater Horizon Wreckage site. 

The Justice Department said in a statement today that the court found it in the public’s best interest to zone off the area to negate the possibility of “intentional or unintentional loss” of evidence from the wreckage. Companies who have equipment at the site have been informed to steer away from the the abandoned vessel. 

The zone will be enforced by the United States by any means necessary, the statement reads, and will be effective until October 2011. Depending on the situation, the statement said the security zone may or may note be renewed at that time.