As expected, President Obama is planning to lift the drilling moratorium and to return to his planned drilling program off pristine areas of the East Coast. While Obama is no longer claiming that oil rigs really do not spill much, it really does not matter much. Bureau head Michael Bromwich has announced that the six-month ban is unlikely to be renewed in a blow to environmentalists. One lasting change? The Obama Administration changed the name of the scandal-laden Minerals Management Service to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
The Administration has been putting on a full court press with officials expressing relief that they can find no large amounts of oil left — brushing over the millions of gallons of toxic chemicals that they allowed BP to dump into the ocean to disperse the oil. Experts have objected that the Obama Administration has been actively downplaying research showing these chemicals remain in the food chain for many years. Administration officials have said that the health impact of these chemicals remains uncertain — leading others to question the decision to dump millions of gallons into the ocean.
The recent public offensive appears calculated in part to lift the ban. In the ultimate example of “out of sight out of mind,” Bromwich insists that he can “see no information so far that would justify extending the moratorium.”
Source: CNN
Slarti & Byron,
Three words I want your thoughts on: pre-drilled relief wells.
Elaine,
It seems to me that this is what Wikileaks is for… (please let me be right on this one!) This definitely seems like a good time for a scientist to employ some duplicity and exercise some civil disobedience.
Byron,
At the very least we need to shine a light on safety procedures – if companies are made honest about admitting their recklessness, the market will go a long way towards sorting them out (of business, that is ;-)). Also, there needs to be investment into new technology so that if there is a spill 30 years from now, we wont still be using exactly the same safety, containment, and cleanup technology that we used 30 years ago.
And it’s okay, I know that not all engineers are greedy bastards who put their own profit ahead of the public good every time… 😉
From Think Progress (8/10/2010)
DOJ gags scientists studying BP disaster.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/10/scientists-bp-gag/
Excerpt:
In an explosive first-hand account, ecosystem biologist Linda Hooper-Bui describes how Obama administration and BP lawyers are making independent scientific analysis of the Gulf region an impossibility. Hooper-Bui has found that only scientists who are part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process to determine BP’s civil liability get full access to contaminated sites and research data. Pete Tuttle, USFWS environmental contaminant specialist and Department of Interior NRDA coordinator, admitted to The Scientist that “researchers wishing to formally participate in NRDA must sign a contract that includes a confidentiality agreement” that “prevents signees from releasing information from studies and findings until authorized by the Department of Justice at some later and unspecified date.” Hooper-Bui writes:
It’s not hazardous conditions associated with oil and dispersants that are hampering our scientific efforts. Rather, it’s the confidentiality agreements that come with signing up to work on large research projects shepherded by government entities and BP and the limited access to coastal areas if you’re not part of those projects that are stifling the public dissemination of data detailing the environmental impact of the catastrophe.
Swarthmore mom,
We must use this info to turn out the vote … I hope the DNC is listening … I’ve read of some solid plans in that direction … I might even restart my contributions if I believe they aren’t being complacent.
Byron,
… or lawyers 😉
Slarti:
we have had 2 major oil spills in the last 30 years, one by a third world country (Mexico) and one by a company with an historical sketchy record (BP). Lets just ban BP from drilling until such time as is determined the actual cause of the accident.
Why penalize all drilling/oil companies for the bad actions of one? I would imagine some mathematicians are child molesters, do we throw them all in jail or deny them work because of one or 2 bad actors?
My apologies to mathematicians everywhere, I know dentists would have been a better choice for an analogy. 🙂
Swarthmore mom said:
“Last night the tea party faction of the republican party did very well in CO MN GA CT.”
Which may well be good news for the Democrats come November.
I agree with Slarti, also. Last night the tea party faction of the republican party did very well in CO MN GA CT.
Blouise said:
“No original thoughts from me today … I’m just going to hop onto other’s coattails.”
No problem, happy to have the company. Enjoy the ride. 😉
I did not vote for Obama. I voted for Nader. I still said give him a chance. But its Bette than Palin being around
Slartibartfast
1, August 11, 2010 at 11:07 am
AY,
…. It would be nice if the administration tried to mollify the left a little by the only thing that really matters – actions.
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Once again I must emphatically agree with that assertion.
No original thoughts from me today … I’m just going to hop onto other’s coattails.
AY,
I think we have to call out the president on what he’s doing wrong while still acknowledging what he’s doing right (and, compared to the previous administration, that’s a lot, but that comparison is more and more ‘damning with faint praise’ every day). It would be nice if the administration tried to mollify the left a little by the only thing that really matters – actions.
And some one said that Obama was a new vision. Wow, and I have defended him in order to give him a chance. I read today that even the crab is tainted with oil. Well I guess what’s good enough for the gulf is good enough for the east coast…..
What Slarti and Blouise said.
Slartibartfast
1, August 11, 2010 at 10:34 am
I would assert that there is also no information so far that would justify lifting the moratorium.
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Most emphatically I join in that assertion.
that second link should be: http://jonathanturley.org/2010/08/06/excuse-me-where-is-the-mens-fueling-station/
spaces spaces…..
“Bromwich insists that he can “see no information so far that would justify extending the moratorium.”
How about the fact that the technology and the lack of coherent planning responsible for this latest catastrophe in the gulf is ubiquitous across the industry?
I would suggest that the billions of dollars that Gates and Buffet have convincingly freed up http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/40-billionaires-to-donate-half-their-money/pledge-drive/ would best serve by developement of an alternative clean fuel vehicle….Mr. Obama can then continue his ‘serving’ of the corporate beast, have the poopmobile http://jonathanturley.org/2010/08/06/excuse-me-where-is-the-mens-fueling-station/and all the fuel he wants….
I would assert that there is also no information so far that would justify lifting the moratorium.