U.S. Coast Guard investigating nearly 350 reported oil spills after Hurricane Ida

The U.S. Coast Guard said it's investigating reports of nearly 350 oil spill incidents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The Category 4 storm, which hit Louisiana last month, shut down nearly 95% of the region's crude oil and gas production.

"Coast Guard crews from across the nation...have deployed throughout Southeastern Louisiana to conduct hazard assessments in order to identify and prioritize threats to the environment and navigable waterways," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "These assessments are essential to ensuring waterways are safe for marine traffic and ensuring that potential pollution hazards are expeditiously identified and mitigated." On Sunday, Coast Guard crews conducted overflights focusing on two locations among the hundreds reported, the federal agency said.