The oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico began when BP's oil rig off the coast of Louisiana exploded on April 20 and sank two days later. Initially 700,00 gallons of oil stored on the rig entered the water, but much of this was burned up in the ensuing fire. Initial efforts to contain the fire were successful despite the loss of 11 lives. The problem that faces the surrounding waters and shores now, is the effects of the oil on the region's ecosystem, fishing, tourism, and shipping industries.
Michael Brune of the Sierra Club claims this oil spill "changes everything."
In a statement to CNN on Saturday, he outlined the problem. "The rig's well is
leaking 210,000 gallons of crude every day, wiping out aquatic life and smothering
the coastal wetlands of Louisiana and Mississippi. As the reeking slick spreads
over thousands of square miles of ocean, it rapidly approaches the title of worst
environmental disaster in U.S. history, even worse than 1989's Exxon Valdez oil
spill. The well is under 5,000 feet of water, and it could take weeks or even
months to cap it."
The surrounding waters are home to dolphins, whales, a myriad of fish, and
is used as a food source for birds. The sensitive wetlands and shoreline waters are
home to birds, alligators, and the ever-important shrimp and oyster populations.
Despite efforts by volunteers to deploy booms, which float atop the surface and
keep water from flowing into a particular area, and clean animals who have come
in contact with the oil, the sensitive ecosystems are feeling the effects of the spill.
Many species from pelicans to alligators to shrimp are currently, or on the verge,
off reproducing.
In addition to the environmentally issues involved with the water and
surrounding land, The Department of Environmental Quality said they have
requested continuous air quality monitoring and testing by the Environmental
Protection Agency. This is after citizens of New Orleans, over 100 miles from the
current oil slick location, complained about the smell of oil in the air.
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ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that people keep comparing this spill to the Valdez accident. The Valdez was not even close to being the largest oil spill in the ocean, although I believe it is the largest one in US waters. However, even if the volume of oil in the waters is greater than the that of the Valdez, the clean-up procedures will be vastly different. The Valdez spill in the Prince William Sound was in a remote location, and was pretty bad by the time relief could get to the site, and Exxon was not helpful in timely reporting the accident. This situation in the Gulf is being watched very closely by the public, and BP's stocks are dropping -- I don't think we have to worry about the people in charge making the situation even worse this time.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Sutphin
To change the topic just a little bit, can you believe that the government is going to cap BP's liability at a lousy $70 million??? This is unbelievably frustrating to me. For once, the government should just let a company (BP in this case) go bankrupt. Even though people would lose jobs, it IS the oil industry, an industry which we are trying to move away from. Why not try to create jobs for these people in renewable energy ventures and let BP own up to their own mistake?
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