Coast Guard replaces on-scene admiral in charge of coordinating Gulf spill response

Coast Guard replaces on-scene admiral Gulf spill

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard is replacing the admiral who has been the federal on-scene coordinator since an oil rig exploded and millions of gallons of crude leaked into the Gulf.

The spill’s unified command center said in a news release Tuesday that Rear Adm. Mary Landry will return to duties as commandant of the 8th Coast Guard District in New Orleans to focus on hurricane season preparations.

Her replacement is Rear Adm. James Watson, who joined Landry as deputy on-scene coordinator three days after the rig exploded April 20.

Coast Guard commandant Adm. Robert Papp says in a statement that Landry’s relief had been planned since the start of the response.

Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander, praised Landry’s performance.