GULF OIL DISASTER
Drill Ban Clashes With Local Economy
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703513604575311431100038128.html
Oil Industry Execs Decry Drilling Moratorium
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/22/national/main6606133.shtml
Gosh, what a surprise!
Deepwater drill ban in court, more Gulf fishing shut
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49518920100622
“Oil services companies were waiting on Tuesday to see if their legal bid would succeed in overturning a six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as more fishing areas were closed in response to the worst oil spill in U.S. history.”
BREAKING NEWS: Federal judge blocks drilling moratorium in Gulf
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/06/22/us/AP-US-Gulf-Oil-Spill.html?_r=2
NOAA Expands Fishing Closed Area in Gulf of Mexico
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/684247/
“NOAA has expanded the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico to include areas where the oil slick is moving beyond the current boundaries off of the Florida panhandle and due south of Mississippi. The closed area now represents 86,985 square miles, which is approximately 36 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.”
BP / Gulf Oil Spill - MODIS Images, June 18 and 19 (Skytruth)
http://blog.skytruth.org/2010/06/bp-gulf-oil-spill-modis-images-june-18.html
“Not as many thunderstorms and cloudy patches on this image [June 19], revealing the continuing upwelling of fresh oil around the location of BP's leaking well. Slicks and sheen span 18,473 square miles (47,847 km2) on this image. Thin patches appear to be making landfall from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Perdido Key in Florida, and from Grayton Beach State Park to the Seacrest / Rosemary Beach area along the Florida coast.”
Internal BP Document Confirms Matt Simmons’ Worst Case Prediction Of Spill Rate Of 100,000+ Barrels Per Day
Report: Absence of fatalities in blowouts encouraging in MMS study of OCS incidents 1992-2006 (2007)
http://drillingcontractor.org/dcpi/dc-julyaug07/DC_July07_MMSBlowouts.pdf
“MMS drilling blowout data shows that blowout rates during the current study period improved, seen in drilling at all water depths. The duration of blowouts also improved . Drilling through shallow gas sands was a major contributing factor causing blowouts, as was found in the previous study, and needs continuing attention by OCS operators. The percentage of blowouts during or after cementing operations increased significantly during the current period. Effective application of better cementing practices and well control procedures could reduce the problems and prevent costly delays
in drilling programs. To address this, MMS and the American Petroleum Institute are working on a series of new standards detailing best cementing practices for offshore oil and gas operations.”
Poll Finds Deep Concern About Energy and Economy
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/us/22poll.html
“Overwhelmingly, Americans think the nation needs a fundamental overhaul of its energy policies, and most expect alternative forms to replace oil as a major source within 25 years. Yet a majority are unwilling to pay higher gasoline prices to help develop new fuel sources.”
SEEC backs legislation to clean & restore Gulf, hold BP accountable & enact stronger drilling regulations
http://seecblog.inslee.house.gov/2010/06/seec-backs-legislation-to-clean-restore-gulf-hold-bp-accountable-enact-stronger-drilling-regulations.shtml
“Today the Congressional Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) announced its endorsement of legislation in response to the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill- the largest environmental disaster in American history. SEEC announced its support for legislative proposals to put Americans to work cleaning and restoring the Gulf; increase the liability cap for economic damage claims resulting from oil spills; assess royalty payments on spilled oil; and strengthen environmental and technological rig safety, spill prevention and response standards.”
WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS
Oil threatens key Gulf algae and its ecosystem
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100622/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill_sea_holly
“Sargassum algae — sometimes called sea holly or Gulf weed — is key to hundreds of species of marine life in the Gulf. Now, the oil is threatening to suffocate it, dealing a blow to fisheries and the ecosystem that scientists say may take years to recover. And as the algae dies in the Gulf, less of the vital plant will reach the Sargasso Sea — some 3,000 miles away through the loop current — potentially harming that ecosystem as well.”
“Towel Aid” for Oiled Birds in Gulf
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/14614-1
FLORIDA
Keeping Key West an Island Paradise
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/21/assignment_america/main6604513.shtml
LOUISIANA
Jindal Throws Support Behind Lawsuit to End Drilling Ban
http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=94950&hmpn=1
“Hornbeck Offshore will present its case today in New Orleans before U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman.”
