GULF OIL DISASTER

Some oil spill events on Thursday, June 17, 2010

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i-yfHJzPLDeBIhG5JDEF6VbaPR8QD9GD5JCG0

BP's Oil-Collection Rate Rises, Still Short Of Estimated Total

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100617-715133.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

“The company, which has been collecting and more recently flaring oil spewing from a broken deep-sea well, said that in the first 12 hours of Thursday it had collected 8,000 barrels of oil and flared 4,500 barrels, for a total of 12,500 barrels. That's one of the highest half-day rates it has reported since one of its numerous attempts at a temporary collection system finally succeeded. However, a team of scientists has estimated about 35,000 to 60,000 barrels are flowing from the broken well every day.”

BP to install different cap along with floating risers in gulf

http://bx.businessweek.com/oil-and-gas/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ogj.com%2Findex%2Farticle-display%2F4802206261%2Farticles%2Foil-gas-journal%2Fgeneral-interest-2%2Fhse%2F2010%2F06%2Fbp-to_install_different%2FQP129867%2Fcmpid%3DEnlDailyJune172010.html

Cracks Show BP Battled Well Two Months Before Blast

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-17/cracks-show-bp-battled-well-two-months-before-blast-update1-.html

Also see: http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/06/did-bp-oil-well-blow-out-in-february.html

Gulf oil full of methane, adding new concerns

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gIXWYBTpLtSayJtg41LKXpxSxVPAD9GDJBO84

“The oil emanating from the seafloor contains about 40 percent methane, compared with about 5 percent found in typical oil deposits, said John Kessler, a Texas A&M University oceanographer who is studying the impact of methane from the spill. That means huge quantities of methane have entered the Gulf, scientists say, potentially suffocating marine life and creating "dead zones" where oxygen is so depleted that nothing lives. "This is the most vigorous methane eruption in modern human history," Kessler said.”

Death by fire in the gulf

So-called burn boxes are torching oil from the water's surface at the sacrifice of turtles, crabs, sea slugs and other sea life.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-burnbox-20100617,0,4814068.story?page=1

“Wildlife researchers operating here, in the regions closest to the spill, are witnesses to a disquieting choice: Protecting shorebirds, delicate marshes and prime tourist beaches along the coast by stopping the oil before it moves ashore has meant the largely unseen sacrifice of some wildlife out at sea, poisoned with chemical dispersants and sometimes boiled by the burning of spilled oil on the water's surface.”

House looks into restructuring offshore drilling watchdog agency

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/17/mms.review/

Environmental Groups Act to Uphold Deepwater Drilling Moratorium

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2010/2010-06-16-091.html

Bill Introduced to Terminate Deepwater Drilling Moratorium

On June 14, Representative Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Gulf Coast Jobs Preservation Act, H.R. 5519. The bill would terminate the moratorium on deepwater drilling and require the Secretary of the Interior to ensure the safety of deepwater drilling operations. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

For more information, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.5519:

Offshore Drilling Moratorium: Your 4 Biggest Questions, Answered

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/18/offshore-drilling-moratorium-4-most-pressing-questions/

Oil companies push for status quo on environmental regulations for deep-water drilling rigs

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-nepa-20100618,0,74784.story

The Gulf Disaster: Whose Asses Need Kicking? (Time Magazine, June 10 Issue)

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1995618,00.html

The Environmental Legacy of the Oil Spill

What's in store for the gulf? Lessons from previous disasters

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/17/the-environmental-legacy-of-the-oil-spill.html

“Lesson 1: The longer oil floats, the less toxic it becomes. Lesson 2: It's the soil. Lesson 3: Get the oil off the beach, but don't expect to remove it all.”

Resolving BP spill will take years

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/resolving-bp-spill-will-550761.html

“…my background leads me to conclude that the cleanup will take years to accomplish, and compensating the victims and punishing those responsible will also take time.”

CNN Poll: Half say Gulf will never recover

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/18/cnn-poll-half-say-gulf-will-never-recover/

The Gulf as President Barack Obama's Bay of Pigs Moment

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/the-gulf-as-president-bar_b_615868.html

GOP leaders forced Rep. Barton to retract apology to BP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/17/AR2010061703756.html?hpid=topnews

Great resource for factual info on the spill at the Encyclopedia of Earth

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

Analytical look at associated energy issues in this blog:

http://www.theenergywatch.com/

CALIFORNIA

San Diegans Can Join in Largest Gathering Against Offshore Oil Drilling In History, June 26