Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Well

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Steadygain said:
Last summer, 20 years after the Exxon spill of 11 million gallons of crude into Prince William Sound, scientists took 9,000 samples from holes dug along the impacted shoreline.

They found OIL in:
D. 1/2 or more

The OIL that was found:
B. Is associated with breakdown products that will continue to enter the food chain for years to come.

31 species of Wildlife were impacted by the spill, and 20 years later:
C. 1/3rd have fully recovered

Wildlife that was once hugely abundant:
B. 20 years later remain absent from the Sound.
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Bullitt said:
Not once did I say we need to fix the problem. Instead I said we need to understand it. Get the facts to humans from elementary school to grad school in hopes of people taking steps to understand the problem and work towards a fix sooner than later. You can't fix what you can't understand.

You and I are on the same page brother -- we really are. We also need to realize that the 'Problem' is way beyond the Gulf.

Steady, I saw a show a few years back on the 20th anniversary

Bullitt, People have pretty much been convinced throughout the years that they could fill the streams and oceans to the highest extent, kill off the animals, do whatever they feel like doing to all the land -- and the Earth could not be damaged. There would be NO consequence to 'our collective health'.

If humans learn anything from this, I'll be amazed.
Fortunately this is the most wonderful aspect of our present period of history -- Humans can now no longer ignore the FACTS.

Yet look over the posts and you'll find that if a Dem. is President - it means 'Global Warming' is totally garbage -- ;)

The same things are happening now as before; everybody would rather point the finger at somebody else to make somebody else the bad guy while the man in the mirror looks like the good shepherd.

AMEN Brother !!! Very well put.

Since we brought it up, I do not believe ethanol is the answer in the long term.
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They fought with all their might to put in an ethanol plant near where I live. Our community -- proved that even though they claimed to be a 'Green Company' and would do everything possible to conserve and protect the environment.

We PROVED what happens with the 'Fresh Water' they use and the extent by which they use it. You talk about an 'uproar'.

Local politicians didn't like 'us' coming against them in such big numbers and 'WE' shot them down. Our water is good and the company went somewhere else. :D:D
 
Why do I even care ?? Because I care a whole lot about our country and what is happening to the land, water, and all involved.

First – what is really going on and WHO is responsible?

Are you familiar with the ‘Halliburton loophole’?

This is something Congress inserted into LAW at the request of a former Halliburton Executive, then Vice President of the tried and true Holy and Perfect United States of America (Dick Cheney) in 2005. Now get this folks, cause it shows the Power of ONE Man over the entire country. This makes the Energy Companies able to drill as never before because it totally exempts them from provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Now that may shock some of you – but here it’s important to remember that not only is Dick Cheney a Republican (which means he is the purest of the pure and therefore is not capable of doing anything that could possibly be wrong for our country) but he is also big in the Tea Party.

So here it’s important to know that many ‘gas drillers’ found it next to impossible to work in a way that LEGALLY operated within the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The 2005 Energy Bill also EXEMPTED ‘drillers’ from storm water runoff provisions of the Clean Water Act.

It makes us wonder, ‘How do Republicans respond to keeping the LEGAL sacred and vital essential aspects of our LIFE and HEALTH – ‘LEGAL’?
To answer this question – Congress also provided EXEMPTIONS from provisions of the Clear Air Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. The last of which allows gas companies to AVOID REPORTING their toxic emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory.

The Gas Companies pump chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rock formations. Hydraulic fracturing fluids contain a TOXIC cocktail of petroleum distillates – benzene, toluene, and other CARCINOGENS. Fractured formations are then dewatered to get the gas.

Over a quarter of drilling permits – which is well over 6,000 – approved on Bureau of Land Management lands between 2006 and 2008 were granted under a special ‘Categorical Exclusion’ RULE that ELIMATES the need for lengthy environmental review.

Information is all available through the National Wildlife Federation in which I am a long standing member and supporter.
 
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/25/nation/la-na-oil-spill-subsidies-20100525

"Oil companies have a rich history of U.S. subsidies
Some say the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe can be linked to Congress' policy of oil-friendly tax breaks and financial benefits.

May 25, 2010|
By Kim Geiger and Tom Hamburger,
Tribune Washington Bureau

Reporting from Washington — It was close to 2 a.m. when Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and others on a House-Senate conference committee saw just how much clout the oil industry had when it came to winning special tax breaks and other financial benefits from Congress.

At issue was the 2005 Energy Policy Act — the largest energy bill in years. The committee chairman, Rep. Joe L. Barton (R- Texas), a friend of the industry, had saved some big issues for the end: billions of dollars in tax and royalty relief to encourage drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico and other offshore areas. There was even a $50-million annual earmark to support technical research for the industry.

At the time, drilling was already proceeding at a brisk pace, and industry profits were setting records. "With all the money they are making," Markey said to his top energy aide, who recalled the scene, "why does the government need to subsidize their work and their research?"

That point of view did not prevail. The bleary-eyed lawmakers wanted no part of Markey's amendments. The bill was eventually passed in both houses with bipartisan support. Notably, then- Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois voted in favor.

Today, Markey and other critics complain that these policies have cost the U.S. Treasury tens of billions in lost revenue, and led to a reckless search for oil in fragile environments like the deep floor of the Gulf of Mexico. He and others say the unfolding catastrophe at the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded April 20 in a disaster that killed 11, can be directly linked to oil-friendly legislation over the last two decades.

...

But there is little disagreement that the industry received significant federal support for such deep-water drilling. Since the government began aggressively issuing offshore drilling permits under President Reagan, the industry has received tens of billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies, including exemptions from royalty payments — the fees due when a company extracts resources from U.S. government property.

The royalty waiver program was established by Congress in 1995, when oil was selling for about $18 a barrel and drilling in deep water was seen as unprofitable without a subsidy. Today, oil sells for about $70 a barrel, but the subsidy continues.

The Government Accountability Office estimates that the deep-water waiver program could cost the Treasury $55 billion or more in lost revenue over the life of the leases, depending on the price of oil and gas and the performances of the wells.

Congress had originally intended to provide royalty relief only when oil prices were especially low. But an Interior Department error in the drafting of contracts in the 1990s led the industry to argue against pegging the relief to oil prices.

Oil companies won a lawsuit last year requiring the government to pay back $2.1 billion in royalties from previous years, including about $240 million to BP.

...

"No reputable economist believes that increasing the amount of [offshore] drilling we do will have any real impact on energy prices," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, in a hearing last year as he called for the end of some of the royalty waiver programs and for a more cautious approach to drilling.

In addition, several analysts say, billions more have been lost to the Treasury through another form of subsidy — favorable packaging of federal leases sold by the Interior Department."


(More to this article at the link above.)
 
Now I know most of you are probably thinking how can all this be happening and who would allow such a thing to happen?
Well for years and years – at least prior to the recent Bush Administration – only about 1% of OIL and GAS leases on public lands were contested in court. So what caused the change?
During the Bush Administration – Orders were given to expedite drilling; which forced the Bureau of Land Management to lease the lands to energy – development companies.
Probably the worst method of extracting OIL is in situ extraction for ‘shale oil’. In 1982 a huge problem occurred and the Regan administration deemed shale-oil production unfeasible and cancelled it.
Bush revived it by granting research and development in Colorado and Utah – giving 5 parcels covering 7 square mile each. The oil companies are buying water rights needed for wildlife, livestock, and human consumption. To develop shale oil commercially companies would need 400,000 acre-feet of water, more than Denver consumes annually.
So whatever -- Bush was Mr. Oil and business is business and let's not forget how that Halliburton Executive raked in the Business with the Iraq War.

http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazin...ill-Flowing-for-Riskier-and-Deeper-Wells.aspx


But what about Obama -- Steady -- oh surely he's not like Bush. :rolleyes:

Well on the Surface -- he'll probably come off pretty good
In his radio address Saturday, President Barack Obama decried the "cozy" relationship between oil companies and the agencies that regulate them. The president also promised that "no permits for drilling new wells will go forward until the 30-day safety and environmental review I requested is complete."
What's going on in 'Real Life' that they don't tell us ??

But today, the New York Times reports that "federal regulators have granted at least 19 environmental waivers for gulf drilling projects and at least 17 drilling permits, most of which were for types of work like that on the Deepwater Horizon shortly before it exploded, pouring a ceaseless current of oil into the Gulf of Mexico."

So what can we do -- probably Nothing

Mmmmm - well we can be grateful for the 6 to 12 new positions put in place to serve the President's wife -- for at least 1.5 Million annually

And I guess we can be grateful that all kind of political clowns and representatives went to China to bow down and be submissive.

But most of all we can be grateful for a President that openly and strongly stands for a State like AZ -- that really spends a lot of time making sure they are doing everything they can to do the right thing.

Otherwise he could look like a wimp and let foreign political clowns come in and give them a platform to blast the good and decent people the country really does have.

OK - -off my soap box

BTW - Was going to elaborate on what's happening with the Gulf Oil spill but it's to extensive and way to sad to talk about.
 
James48843 said:
The Government Accountability Office estimates that the deep-water waiver program could cost the Treasury $55 billion or more in lost revenue
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This is in all honestly what makes me so furious about the way these political clowns act. They think it all comes down to money and like everyone should be thrilled -- we're getting so many $ Billion.

So how about we simply say 'No Boats or Ships' in the Gulf period - because we don't want to spread the garbage all over the ships and let it go anywhere else.

Mmmm how much would that cost to totally shut down all shipping involved along the coast?

Most of the real -- serious and most devastating consequences don't have a 'dollar amount'. How can you put a dollar amount on wiping out waters generation after generation have enjoyed.

There are enormous industries associated with LA alone - so we've just wiped out everything they've known for ages.

Then Mr. BP CEO/Exec has an interview last night and is talking about what Silverbird ;):) (heart going pitter patty and fanning myself) just mentioned -- 'the oil coming to the shores' :rolleyes: and he says 'Well we now have reports of OIL flowing up on the shores of TX, LA, GA, FL (sounded like 5 or 6 States) -- now all of this is brand new and the first time it's happened in all these places. And he says but all that oil has been tested and had 'Nothing to do with them'.

Whatever -- if the Politicians and the Higher Ups could get in the same trouble as me and have to deal with whatever kind of consequences I'd have to deal with -- I would honestly feel a lot better -- but what makes me mad as hell is that all these Major Heartless Criminals never get touched. Along those lines I feel the same way with these Priests messing with kids. Why can't we just publicly hang them?

OK -- emergency mediation -- breath in silk -- blow out bubbles
 
Frixxxx said:
The people of the United States ARE the political movement. We are a nation of the people by the people.

If we as a society make it so, then we win.
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Frixxxx,
My brother and friend -- I hope I didn't come across as being argumentative with you (or anyone esle) yesterday.


The people of the United States ARE the political movement. We are a nation of the people by the people.

I (with undeniable bias) believe the United States is the greatest country in the world. I have always known incredible abundance and freedoms far beyond the world population. Have always believed that if we live 'right' and work hard to achieve our dreams and goals that nothing is out of our reach --- and for me personally that was a living reality.

So the 'Belief' that 'we' - the NATION - are the political movement has been deeply ingrained and reinforced by almost everyone throughout my life.

We are a NATION 'by the people and for the people' was what I had been taught from essentially the first moment.

I NOW feel this 'Belief' must have it's origin during the 'Conquering Years' - as the United States was increasing being discovered, settled, and more and more was taken until everything was theirs.

That would give this BELIEF a far deeper and more sacred and significant meaning and back then would have undoubtedly been associated with a much greater character of 'unity'.

But things have totally changed and nothing is anything like it use to be. As Corporations and Industries came to power the FOCUS shifted to MONEY and ECONOMIC GROWTH. PEOPLE never dreamed their endless dedication and committment to spur PROGRESS would in the long run make them worth LESS and LESS as the Corporations and Industries became increasingly powerful.

We are a NATION 'by the people and for the people'.

I would say if anyone honestly looked at how everything has been throughout our lifetime (here I mean every single person) we would have to acknowledge the world is nothing like we thought it was. The Corporations and Industries have long been in control and anything and everything that makes them stronger and more powerful and more wealthy Dominates Society. They have taken anything and everything they want and the Land and Water and the Environment are nothing but their property to use in any manner they want. The Politicians are in place -- and have been in place -- way more for Corporate and Industrial Interests before anything else. This is the System we HAVE and both Parties are EQUALLY Guilty.

If we as a society make it so, then we win

The only way that could be possible - is if all of us were on the same page and seriously let TRUTH override our 'Political Belief' that one party (or another) is going to change things.

WE - as a SOCIETY - would have to make the LAND and WATER and the areas we LIVE our priority and REFUSE to allow Corporations or Industries to destory what belongs to us.

Then, and only then, could we win.
 
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New proposal being discussed on CNBC from someone that all BP executives should have to give up their salaries and bonuses. Now that will help. One commenter with tongue in cheek said they should also have to stand in Time Square naked.
 
YELLOWSTONE SUPERVOLCANO GETTING READY TO BLOW ITS CORK

Posted by geologist Christopher C. Sanders on January 1, 2009.
"I am advising all State officials around Yellowstone National Park for a potential State of Emergency. In the last week over 252 earthquakes have been observed by the USGS. We have a 3D view on the movement of magma rising underground. We have all of the pre warning signs of a major eruption from a super volcano. - I want everyone to leave Yellowstone National Park and for 200 miles around the volcano caldera."

Want something to worry about?...When this happens, there will be nothing left on Earth to worry about, especially an oil spill..

http://www.earthmountainview.com/yellowstone/yellowstone.htm
 
Geez, Buster can't you hold this eruption off till the end of July? We have had a family/friend vacation planned to Yellowstone for a long time. Schedule it for early evening so we can all be sitting around enjoying the day and have time to say :wow look at th..."

I think we had this conversation before.

James48843, am I wrong in believing you are enjoying this ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico?
 
Buster said:
YELLOWSTONE SUPERVOLCANO GETTING READY TO BLOW ITS CORK

Posted by geologist Christopher C. Sanders on January 1, 2009.
"I am advising all State officials around Yellowstone National Park for a potential State of Emergency. In the last week over 252 earthquakes have been observed by the USGS. We have a 3D view on the movement of magma rising underground. We have all of the pre warning signs of a major eruption from a super volcano. - I want everyone to leave Yellowstone National Park and for 200 miles around the volcano caldera."

Want something to worry about?...When this happens, there will be nothing left on Earth to worry about, especially an oil spill..

http://www.earthmountainview.com/yellowstone/yellowstone.htm
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"An unqualified geologist is in a bit of trouble with the United States Geological Survey after issuing an bogus evacuation warning for the area surrounding Yellowstone National Park.

On Jan. 1, Christopher C. Sanders posted a YouTube video and web announcement warning everyone within a 200-mile radius of Yellowstone's volcanic caldera to evacuate, and used a USGS logo to do so. He was apparently spooked by the large number of small Yellowstone earthquakes in recent days.

The only problem? The USGS has seen no data suggesting a supervolcanic eruption is on the way and is/was not issuing any sort of warning."

http://blog.powelltribune.com/2009/01/email-interview-christopher-sanders-and.html

The National Park Service is my agency. So I knew this guy was bogus. Yea, super volcano is real. But the likelyhood it will blow is like asteroid hitting the earth. The oil spill is already being proven as the worst ecological disaster of modern times. I'm not worried. I'm sick over the devastation.
 
XL-entLady said:
"An unqualified geologist is in a bit of trouble with the United States Geological Survey after issuing an bogus evacuation warning for the area surrounding Yellowstone National Park.

The National Park Service is my agency.

Then you have my heart and soul.

So I knew this guy was bogus. Yea, super volcano is real. But the likelyhood it will blow is like asteroid hitting the earth. The oil spill is already being proven as the worst ecological disaster of modern times. I'm not worried. I'm sick over the devastation.
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Lady, you are such a sweetheart. ;):)

My dear wonderful friend,
The Yellowstone Supervolcano -- along with numerous other aspects of our planet have been extensively researched. Perhaps the most important feature is understanding how 'Cycles' are hugely built into the design of our Living Planet.

We can not change the cycle by which the Yellowstone Supervolcano has its existence and its long standing nature; anymore than we can change the cycle by which 'Earthquates' are designed with 'faults' which have long been known.

The Yellowstone Supervolcano is 'overdue' and anyone who has taken the time to honestly and objectively -- deeply study the Earth and learn the facinating designs by which it exists knows this.

Here the important -- perhaps most important thing to realize -- is that when any event becomes known -- The MEDIA (under direction of Government and Higher Authority) will always do everything possible to cover the TRUTH and put the population at ease.

Example -- Gulf Oil Spill -- 42,000 gallons a day. Followed by my post of saying -- what a crock. Followed by another post saying it would take at least 260 days to even get anywhere near the Exxon Spill and how 'we are better able to deal with this'.

Buster, we don't know what we happen. One day at a time my friend and make the most of each day.
 
PessOptimist said:
James48843, am I wrong in believing you are enjoying this ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico?
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There is no joy in any of this.

There is only ecological disaster.

Death. Pollution. Harm.

Can we learn from what has happened?

Can we change so that it never happens again?

The Santa Barbara oil disaster of 1969 dumped 200,000 gallons of oil into the ocean over a period of 19 days. It awakened the nation to the hazards of off-shore drilling, and, as a result, there were changes to our policies. The EPA was created to help reduce pollution in our nation. If Santa Barbara hadn't happened, I don't know if we would even have an EPA today.

This accident is far, far larger and potentially more devastating than Santa Barbara ever was. The well is now gushing, by some estimates, a million and a half gallons PER DAY. And it's been going on for more than a month. And, if the current "top kick" plan fails, could continue to go on for months. MONTHS.

No, there is no joy in Mudville.
 
Buster said:
Steady (Mr.hart) watch this video to the end..and please try to speak coherently.
Click to expand...

I can't watch it and don't want to see this message of how 'I'm violating - this and that - restrictions and such'.

Always 'fear' they're going to think I'm trying to get on a porn site or something so I hate it when that happens.

Buster,
This is something I've already studied on a pretty extensive level and all the facts are there and can not be dismissed or under appreciated. Yes it will be by far the most serious Natural Disaster our country has known so far.

Well I'll be busy most of this morning and the afternoon will also be packed. So won't have much time to get back.

Asking me to speak coherently -- is like telling a baby who hasn't even learned to crawl -- to get up and run across the football field.
 
Never fear, CNN is on the job. Latest news was an interview with a cleanup worker who said he was awakened at 3am without notice and told to report. He said it was quite disturbing. The CNN reporter clarified that the worker had been awakened to attend a class on cleanup. The reporter said she would press BP to find out why he was awakened at 3am without notice. .....You just can't make it up.
 
Update on Antoine's being awakened. He was being awakened to go to Grand Isle before BOs visit. It turned out that he did not like being awakened and the bus ride and decided after getting on the bus that he was not being paid enough and quit. I guess we need to press on with that unemployment benefits extension. Dumb CNN did not even make that connection.

Different subject.
Has anyone noticed that the individual people who have the monkey on their back to actually make a decision on something, from when to turn a wheel to big things, are continually besieged and belittled by individuals whose major, and apparently sole talent is to think of things to ask about?
 
As a resident of the Gulfcoast - Here is a bright perspective.
The amount of Deep Horizon oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico over the past 85 days is equivalent to approximately 1 gallon of oil in 3 billion gallons of seawater. (Assuming 60,000 barrels of oil spilled per day). This equates to 1 ounce of oil distributed among 937 In-ground, residential grade swimming pools.

Obviously, the oil is not equally distributed throughout the Gulf of Mexico and this does not help the beaches, marshes and fisheries that are already soiled. But, it makes one wonder if a small hurricane or tropical depression (Bonnie) might provide some nice mixing/dilution.

Looking at nasty oil on the beach is depressing. Pondering these type of perspectives makes me feel good. :)
 
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