Tracking the BP Oil Spill
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Since the explosion, the equivalent of some 5000 barrels of crude oil is spewing forth each day from three separate ruptures along the 5000-foot stretch of pipeline along the ocean floor. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar noted that in the worst case scenario, the amount could be upwards of up to 100,000 barrels.
Under the leadership of National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, the U.S. Coast Guard has already laid several miles of protective oil boom barriers in an effort to contain the spill. British Petroleum—the world’s third largest global energy corporation and company responsible for the accident—handed out contracts to local fisherman this weekend requesting they lend out their boats to help with the cleanup efforts.
In the same briefing, President Obama put direct pressure on the oil giant, saying “[l]et me be clear: BP is responsible for this leak; BP will be paying the bill.” In recent press release, BP CEO Tony Hayward noted that “BP is fully committed to taking all possible steps to contain the spread of the oil spill. We are taking full responsibility for the spill and we will clean it up, and where people can present legitimate claims for damages we will honor them."
Thousands of species of wildlife that make their homes in the Gulf of Mexico and the Louisiana wetlands are now seriously threatened in the wake of the spill. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced today that it will be prohibiting commercial and recreational fishing from Louisiana state waters to Florida’s Pensacola Bay.
Aside from the manifest environmental concerns, the spill has sparked fears of economic disparity amongst the thousands of local fishermen that make a living off the abundance of seafood in the Gulf waters.
“NOAA scientists are on the ground in the area of the oil spill taking water and seafood samples in an effort to ensure the safety of the seafood and fishing activities,” said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator.
“I heard the concerns of the Plaquemines Parish fishermen as well other fishermen and state fishery managers about potential economic impacts of a closure,” said Lubchenco after having met with a group of concerned fishermen over the weekend. “Balancing economic and health concerns, this order closes just those areas that are affected by oil. There should be no health risk in seafood currently in the marketplace.”
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson spent the weekend in the Gulf states assessing the damage and is working closely with President Obama. EPA has created an online resource in an effort to keep the public updated on the federal government’s response to the crisis.
BP is currently accepting claims for the Gulf Coast oil spill. For more information about the response and recovery efforts and to sign up for updates from the Joint Information Center, you may visit http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
