Oil Drilling News

GULF SPILLS SINCE THE DEEPWATER HORIZON SPILL WAS CAPPED

BP Spill Stopped One Year Ago Today - 5,000 Spills Since Then (Skytruth)

http://blog.skytruth.org/2011/07/bp-spill-stopped-one-year-ago-today.html

"Oh yeah, and the 5,100 new oil and other hazardous materials spills in the Gulf region reported to the National Response Center since July 15, 2010.  Here are the 3,000 reports that have enough usable location information for us to pinpoint them on a map."

HUMAN, WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEM IMPACTS

No Vacancies, but Some Reservations

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/us/16gulf.html

"Taxable lodging revenues from rentals in Gulf Shores and its neighboring resort town, Orange Beach, fell by more than half last summer."  [...] "

But in 2010, there was no summer. Hotels sat empty or filled rooms only by offering steep discounts. Smaller businesses like beach chair rentals went under; charter boat operators barely hung on. The whole spend-save-borrow cycle was thrown off. "[...] 

"But one concern about the future is raised more than any other.

It was the topic of another document sent out last week, this one to state and local officials from the command center of the spill cleanup operation in New Orleans. 

It is a draft version of a "decision matrix," a list of several factors to consider in deciding when and when not to remove submerged mats of oil that are still being found, some even in recent days, sitting just offshore. 

The prospect of not removing a mat for just about any reason is unacceptable to Taylor Kirschenfeld, an environmental officer for Escambia County, Fla. If a tropical storm or hurricane comes through and whips up those mats, sending tar patties onto the beach, "it could be the whole thing all over again.""

OIL/ENERGY POLICY

Landrieu, Murkowski widen revenue-sharing proposal in bid for support

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/171599-landrieu-murkowski-widen-coastal-energy-cash-plan-in-bid-for-wider-support-

"Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) hope to corral votes for giving coastal states a big cut of offshore oil-and-gas revenues by widening their plan to include revenues from emerging marine renewable energy projects as well."

Offshore drilling bill slated for debate next week

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/07/offshore-drilling-bill-slated-for-debate-next-week/