GULF OIL DISASTER
Scientists Say as Much as 79% of Oil Remains in Gulf of Mexico
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-17/scientists-say-79-of-spilled-oil-may-remain-challenging-administration.html
“Most of the oil that leaked from BP’s Macondo well from April 20 to July 15 is still beneath the water’s surface, five scientists including Samantha Joye, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Georgia in Athens, concluded in a memo made public yesterday. The researchers say they drew upon the U.S. government’s study while reaching different conclusions.”
Also see this UGA News Release
Report Regarding the Minerals Management Service’s National Environmental Policy Act Policies, Practices, and Procedures as They Relate to Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=42036
More environmental review planned for oil exploration and drilling
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/08/more_environmental_review_plan.html
“In the aftermath of the blowout of BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the federal Minerals Management Service was widely criticized for issuing BP "categorical exclusions" for exploration and drilling that permitted the operation to proceed without a more painstaking environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. On Monday, the Interior Department announced that it will restrict the use of those exclusions to only those situations posing "limited environmental risk."”
Also see: Obama administration tightens drilling oversight and Drilling Permits for Deep Waters Face New Review
“I applaud Secretary Salazar for the steps he is taking,” Mr. Rahall said, “but permanent reform requires passage of my CLEAR Act, which would put the last nail in the coffin to the practice of allowing Big Oil to jam through offshore drilling projects with minimal review.”
But predictably, Oil industry slams Interior over expanded environmental reviews for offshore drilling
Director Bromwich to Host Forums in California and Alaska to Discuss Drilling and Workplace Safety, Spill Response
Dates and locations have just been announced for CA and AK:
August 24, 2010: Santa Barbara, Calif.
Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort
633 East Cabrillo Road
Santa Barbara, CA
Doors open at 8 A.M., event begins at 9 A.M.
August 26, 2010: Anchorage, Alaska
Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center
555 West Fifth Avenue
Anchorage, AK
Doors open at 7 A.M., event begins at 8 A.M.
WILDLIFE, HUMAN AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS
Uncovering the Lies That Are Sinking the Oil
http://www.truth-out.org/uncovering-lies-that-are-sinking-oil62345
“There is a clear pattern that VOO workers in all four states are consistently reporting:
· VOO workers identify the oil.
· They are then sent elsewhere by someone higher up the chain of command.
· Dispersants are later applied by out-of-state contractors in Carolina Skiffs (usually at night), or aircraft are used, in order to sink the oil.
· The oil "appears" gone and, therefore, no additional action is taken.
"There are surfers coming in with oil on them," Yerkes continued, "There are divers telling us it's on the bottom. We have VOO workers coming in after finding oil three inches thick atop the water as of last week and they go back out there and it's gone."”
Oil spill recovery grant includes $3 million for mental health care in Florida
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/oil-spill-recovery-grant-includes-3-million-for-862689.html
“Other agencies receiving money include: the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration, $10 million; Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals, $15 million; the Mississippi and Alabama mental health departments, $12 million each.”
