BP crews clean up oil washed to shore
Last week I wrote broadly about the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and how it has caused an ugly collision of private companies, politicians, regulators and lobbyists. One week later, as the oil gushes on, little has improved both in the water and in Washington. To date, over 6 million gallons of crude oil have been spilled into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20.
Here is a quick chronological update:
1. In a directive issued on May 20th the EPA ordered BP to find a less toxic but equally effective chemical than Corexit 9500, a chemical dispersant. The EPA claims that Corexit 9500 is high in toxicity and low in efficacy in comparison to other EPA-approved dispersants. BP refused, claiming its choice is most appropriate for “subsea application.”
2. Also last Thursday, it was accused that BP had engaged in a “cover-up” about the extent of the damage and the amount of oil flowing unchecked from the ruptured well. In a letter to BP CEO, Tony Hayward, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a letter, that despite claims by BP that it was striving to keep the public and the government informed, “those efforts, to date, have fallen short in both their scope and effectiveness.”
3. In his weekly address (scroll down for the full video), Obama holds BP accountable but draws public criticism for “blowing his chance“ to use the spill as a springboard for revitalizing the clean energy debate. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar defended the government’s response, pointing out that the U.S. has sent 1,000 vessels and more than 20,000 workers to the regions, and has conducted controlled burning and boom deployment operations.
4. Obama announces a new, seven-member “Bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling” to report within six months.
5. BP announces its latest attempt to shut off the gushing, a technique known as “top kill.” The top kill method involves injecting mud and other heavy fluids into the well, followed by concrete, to permanently seal the opening.
6. News sources begin to reveal that the U.S. Government has the legal authority to take control of the Gulf oil spill away from BP. This authority was granted after the Exxon Valdez incident in 1989, which led Congress to pass the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). Why has the government acted as it has? Most feel it’s because they don’t want to “own” this spill, politically. If BP’s latest attempt to shut off the well fails, the administration might not have much of a choice.
7. Oil begins washing to shore, tainting 150 miles of coastline, penetrating more than 12 miles into Louisiana’s sensitive wetlands, “killing marshes instantly.” This will likely provide graphic visual evidence of the oil spill in the form of massive harm to wildlife. An increase in dramatic, photographic evidence will likely cause more public outrage, creating a political pivot point in this disaster.
8. Andrew Sullivan wonders: “If we cannot stop this, what else can we not stop?“
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Side Note:
9. The American Wind Energy Association is holding its annual conference this week, in Dallas, Texas, with a record 20,000 people in attendance.
10. ExxonMobil will be holding its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 26, also in Dallas, Texas.
Hm, I wonder what they’ll be talking about.
