Difference between revisions of "Gulf of Mexico oil spill"

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On 31 March 2010 [[President Barack Obama]] announced the resumption of domestic offshore oil drilling at Andrews Air Force Base outside [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress#p/u/6/mA7RAfHN-wo  Obama Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling,] Associated Press, 31 March 2010. Retrieved from [[Youtube]] 9 May 2010.</ref> The President's actions have been labeled, "a decision to endanger our coastal [[ecosystem]]s with the risk of catastrophic oil spills."<ref>[http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/04/30/president_obama_committed_to_endangering President Obama must reinstate moratorium on offshore drilling,] [[Greenpeace]] USA blogs, 30 Apr 2010.</ref> Defending the decision, the President remarked "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills.  They are technologically very advanced."<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref><ref>Video: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/flashback_obama_says_oil_rigs_today_dont_generally_cause_spills.html Obama Says "Oil Rigs Today Don't Generally Cause Spills"], 2 April 2010. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com 12 May 2010.</ref>
 
On 31 March 2010 [[President Barack Obama]] announced the resumption of domestic offshore oil drilling at Andrews Air Force Base outside [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/AssociatedPress#p/u/6/mA7RAfHN-wo  Obama Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling,] Associated Press, 31 March 2010. Retrieved from [[Youtube]] 9 May 2010.</ref> The President's actions have been labeled, "a decision to endanger our coastal [[ecosystem]]s with the risk of catastrophic oil spills."<ref>[http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2010/04/30/president_obama_committed_to_endangering President Obama must reinstate moratorium on offshore drilling,] [[Greenpeace]] USA blogs, 30 Apr 2010.</ref> Defending the decision, the President remarked "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills.  They are technologically very advanced."<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref><ref>Video: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/29/flashback_obama_says_oil_rigs_today_dont_generally_cause_spills.html Obama Says "Oil Rigs Today Don't Generally Cause Spills"], 2 April 2010. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com 12 May 2010.</ref>
  
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According to the ''New York Times'' Obama "said several times during his [[Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his [[State of the Union]] address<ref>Barack Obama [http://www.c-span.org/Executive/State-of-the-Union.aspx State of the Union] Address 2010. Retrieved from [[C-Span]].org 15 May 2010.</ref> in January [2010] that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time,] John M. Broder, ''[[New York Times]]'', March 30, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/obama_clears_way_for_oil_drill.html Obama clears way for oil drilling off U.S. coasts], The Associated Press, March 31, 2010, Retrieved from nola.com 8 May 2010.</ref>
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According to the ''New York Times'' Obama "said several times during his [[Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his [[State of the Union]] address<ref>[http://www.c-span.org/Executive/State-of-the-Union.aspx Barack Obama fsilv
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State of the Union] Address 2010. Retrieved from [[C-SPAN]].org 15 May 2010.</ref> in January [2010] that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time,] John M. Broder, ''[[New York Times]]'', March 30, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/obama_clears_way_for_oil_drill.html Obama clears way for oil drilling off U.S. coasts], The Associated Press, March 31, 2010, Retrieved from nola.com 8 May 2010.</ref>
  
 
==The Obama plan ==
 
==The Obama plan ==
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=== Silverfish ===
 
=== Silverfish ===
  
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In testing done by the U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] the was extrememly lethal to [[silverfish]], a benchmark [[organism]] in [[toxic]]ity testing.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from ''Wired Science'' 15 May 2010.</ref>
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In testing done by the U.S. [[Environmental Protection Agency]] the was extremely lethal to silverfish, a benchmark [[organism]] in [[toxic]]ity testing.<ref>Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from ''Wired Science'' 15 May 2010.</ref>
  
 
=== Gulf menhaden ===
 
=== Gulf menhaden ===

Revision as of 15:44, May 15, 2010

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On 31 March 2010 President Barack Obama announced the resumption of domestic offshore oil drilling at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C.[1] The President's actions have been labeled, "a decision to endanger our coastal ecosystems with the risk of catastrophic oil spills."[2] Defending the decision, the President remarked "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."[3][4]

According to the New York Times Obama "said several times during his presidential campaign that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his State of the Union address[5] in January [2010] that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”[6][7]

The Obama plan

Map of expanded areas of offshore oil drilling authorized by President Obama on 31 March 2010.[8]
Source: United States Department of Interior.

Obama called for expanded development and production throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) estimates that the Gulf of Mexico contains 36-41.5 billion barrels of oil and 161-207 trillion cubic feet of natural gas resources. According a DOI press release, Obama's plan would "expand oil and gas development and exploration" while "protecting fisheries, tourism, and places off U.S. coasts that are not appropriate for development."[9]

Deepwater Horizons

On Earth Day 2010, a British Petroleum-leased oil drilling rig sank to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico two days after it exploded, creating what has been described as the "worst environmental disaster in US history."[10] Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told CNN "It potentially is catastrophic," and "I think we have to prepare for the worst."[11][12]

The drilling rig had been inspected by the Obama Minerals Management Service just two weeks prior to the explosion.[13]

Nobel Laureate in Economics, Dr. Paul Krugman,[14] who has been highly critical of Obama economic policy[15] wrote in his regular New York Times opinion column, Conscience of a Liberal, that soon "talk-show hosts will be claiming" falsely that "The oil spill is Obama's fault."[16]

Slow response

On 23 April 2010 Department of Homeland Security officials with the U.S. Coast Guard reported the was no leak from the sunken oil rig.[17] Federal officials did not begin burning the leaking oil off the surface of the water until one full week after the rig collapsed.[18] Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal criticized President Obama for his slow response[19] The New York Times castigated the White House for delays and not moving quick enough, calling the evidence "damning" and declaring the Gulf oil spill a "huge disaster whose consequences might have been minimized with swifter action" from the Obama administration.[20]

British Petroleum

A symbol that the president is responsible, Obama takes ownership of this crisis. His actions alone will be judged and cannot pass blame onto others as he has previously.

During the first 100 days of the Obama administration, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of the Interior granted a “categorical exclusion” from a detailed environmental impact statement required under law[21] to British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon drilling operation, according to the Washington Post.[22] BP's exploration plan received in the Administration's MMS field office on 23 March 2009 states "no mitigation measures other than those required by regulation and BP policy will be employed to avoid, diminish or eliminate potential impacts on environmental resources." It declared any spill would have only "sub-lethal" effects on fish and marine mammals but it was "unlikely that an accidental oil spill would occur from the proposed activities."[23]

As Senator, and while running for president, Barack Obama received a total of $77,051 from British Petroleum[24] and has taken more money from BP's Political Action Committee and individuals connected with BP over the past 20 years than any other candidate, according to FEC disclosure records.[25] Likewise, the independent watchdog Center for Responsive Politics noted, "the “top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself.”[26][27]

Environmental disaster

Attempted cleanup

Wired Science reports the Obama administration disaster-relief agencies and BP are using a toxic chemical to disperse oil in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. Use of dispersants are said to be a public relations strategy.[28] U.S.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano reported the dispersants were dropped form C-130 cargo aircraft.[29] Jackie Savitz of the ocean-conservation group Oceana stated the use of dispersants is only slightly less horrendous than the Gulf oil spill itself. "You're basically pouring chemicals into the ocean, which is never a good thing."[30] According to a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency report dispersants have not been used in the United State "because of possible long-term environmental effects, difficulties with timely and effective application, disagreement among scientists and research data about their environmental effects, effectiveness, and toxicity concerns" and the effects "are still unknown."[31] Dennis Takahashi-Kelso, executive vice president of the environmental group Ocean Conservancy, said dispersants risk damaging ecosystems and hurting wildlife.[32]

Many species of wildlife have been threatened at a crucial in their life cycle.[33]

Silverfish

In testing done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the was extremely lethal to silverfish, a benchmark organism in toxicity testing.[34]

Gulf menhaden

Gulf menhaden are a species harvested mostly for fish meal and fish oil. Menhaden could be badly affected by the spill.

Oyster and shrimp

Oyster and shrimp likewise are critically affected. Shrimp were found to be extremely vulnerable to the lethal effects of the chemical dispersant Corexit used by Obama administration disaster relief agencies and BP in testing done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[35]

Brown pelican

The Louisiana state bird, the brown pelican, was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2009 and breeding season has just commenced.

Other bird species

Other species endangered by the oil spill are American oystercatcher and Wilson's plover.

Sea turtles

As several species of sea turtles move through the Gulf during their spring nesting season, they need to surface to breathe.

Economic impacts

The economic impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil drilling disaster could be large and devastating to several key industries, including fishing, tourism, and transportation.[36]

Employment in fishing

Fishing[37] in the Gulf of Mexico employed about 27,000 workers in Louisiana alone and second to Alaska's fishing industry. Dockside sales are approximately $660 million. Loses to the Louisiana fishing industry could be as high as $2.5 billion.[38]

Tourism

Tourism along the Gulf coast likewise could be devastated as the spill comes ashore. Florida tourism industry could lose $3 billion according to analysts at Bernstein Research.[39]

Transportation

The disruption of shipping traffic in and out of the Port of New Orleans will impact barge, container, and tanker traffic in the Mississippi Delta and along the Mississippi River. Prices of all types of commodities would affected,

Insurance industry

British Petroleum (BP), the operator on the oil drilling lease with a 65% stake, insured itself, rather than buying coverage from insurance companies. Industry analysts estimate total costs related to the oil spill clleanup and damages could exceed $14 billion. [40]

Other Liberal Reaction

Forthcoming

References

  1. ↑ Obama Lifts Ban on Offshore Drilling, Associated Press, 31 March 2010. Retrieved from Youtube 9 May 2010.
  2. ↑ President Obama must reinstate moratorium on offshore drilling, Greenpeace USA blogs, 30 Apr 2010.
  3. ↑ White House Press Release, Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina, Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Video: Obama Says "Oil Rigs Today Don't Generally Cause Spills", 2 April 2010. Retrieved from RealClearPolitics.com 12 May 2010.
  5. ↑ [http://www.c-span.org/Executive/State-of-the-Union.aspx Barack Obama fsilv State of the Union] Address 2010. Retrieved from C-SPAN.org 15 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time, John M. Broder, New York Times, March 30, 2010.
  7. ↑ Obama clears way for oil drilling off U.S. coasts, The Associated Press, March 31, 2010, Retrieved from nola.com 8 May 2010.
  8. ↑ http://usgovinfo.about.com/b/2010/04/01/obama-offshore-oil-drilling-details.htm
  9. ↑ Department of Interior Press Release, 31 March 2010.
  10. ↑ Worst environmental disaster in US history, Maryann Tobin, Examiner, April 29, 2010.
  11. ↑ Gulf Oil Spill: Impossible to Measure Impact of "Unprecedented Environmental Disaster", Aaron Task, May 03, 2010. Retrieved fro Yahoo Finance May 2010.
  12. ↑ http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/02/salazar-oil-spill-massive-and-a-potential-catastrophe/
  13. ↑ White House Press Office, Press Briefing on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast, 29 April 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 12 May 2010.
  14. ↑ Economics 2008. Retrieved from Nobel.org 10 May 2010.
  15. ↑ Krugman Garners Newsweek Cover for Left-Wing Criticism of Obamanomics, Julia A. Seymour, Business & Media Institute, 3/31/09.
  16. ↑ The Oil Spill Is Obama’s Fault, Paul Krugman, New York Times Op-Ed, April 30, 2010,
  17. ↑ Coast Guard: No oil leaking from sunken rig, Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 23 April 2010.
  18. ↑ http://blog.al.com/live/2010/04/burning_should_have_started_a.html
  19. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzEntQPr9OA
  20. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/opinion/01sat1.html
  21. ↑ The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
  22. ↑ U.S. exempted BP's Gulf of Mexico drilling from environmental impact study, Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, 5 May 2010.
  23. ↑ http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/documents/initial_exploration_plan050410.pdf
  24. ↑ http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/BP?view=detail&siteid=nwhwk
  25. ↑ Obama is biggest recipient of BP’s political action cash in the last 20 years, John Byrne, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from rawstory.com 9 May 2010.
  26. ↑ Jake Tapper, Political Punch, ABC News, 5 May 2010. [1]
  27. ↑ http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/on-thursday-oil-giant-bp.html
  28. ↑ Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from Wired Science 15 May 2010.
  29. ↑ Oil-spill disaster: Chemicals used in cleanup add to toxic mix, Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2010.
  30. ↑ Ibid.
  31. ↑ Ibid.
  32. ↑ Ibid.
  33. ↑ FACTBOX-Possible environmental impact of Gulf oil spill, Reuters, 28 April 2010.
  34. ↑ Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from Wired Science 15 May 2010.
  35. ↑ Toxic Oil Dispersant Used in Gulf Despite Better Alternative, Brandon Keim, 5 May 2010. Retrieved from Wired Science 15 May 2010.
  36. ↑ Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Nariman Behravesh, 4 May 2010. Retrieved from ihsglobalinsights.com 8 May 2020.
  37. ↑ http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/fishing-industry-hammered-by-gulf-oil-spill/41612D0E-B338-464D-A15E-5885B1D227D6
  38. ↑ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/insurers-brace-for-liability-hit-from-oil-spill-2010-05-05
  39. ↑ http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da532730030019&sectionId=65
  40. ↑ U.S. oil spill could bill could exceed $14 billion, Tom Bergin, Reuters, 2 May 2010.
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