The Gulf Oil Spill has been out of the news for some time now however I am wondering what the long term affects will be. Would like to hear any updates as to the continuing environmental problems that are still going on and what can be expected over new next few years. The other question, what is BP doing as far as the long term clean up plan? I assume they will spend the next 10 years in the courts trying to wriggle out of their responsibility to do what is right while protecting shareholder value.
Gulf Oil Spill-Long Term Effects
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I spent a week at Navarra Beach this summer.
I found only a few small "tar balls" on the beach. They looked like pieces of asphalt but they were oval and they did not have any gravel embedded.
There were plenty of fish (schools) and I even saw a few sharks.
The one thing I wondered about was the seaweed. The shore was littered with a grassy slimy growth that made swimming less desirable and as the grass washed ashore it rotted and smelled bad. I don't remember the beaches of FL having a seaweed problem. So I wondered if it had something to do with extra nutrients in the water from the oil spill?
I found only a few small "tar balls" on the beach. They looked like pieces of asphalt but they were oval and they did not have any gravel embedded.
There were plenty of fish (schools) and I even saw a few sharks.
The one thing I wondered about was the seaweed. The shore was littered with a grassy slimy growth that made swimming less desirable and as the grass washed ashore it rotted and smelled bad. I don't remember the beaches of FL having a seaweed problem. So I wondered if it had something to do with extra nutrients in the water from the oil spill?
There are a number of environmental impact studies on-going but none will be completed for some time and it is only the irresponsible scientific groups who are making statements this early about the effects. Also, I wouldn't be so quick to rush to judgment over BP's trying to avert liability as clearly they haven't demonstrated that behavior yet.
I'm no fan of big oil but I have some experience with big oil spills and this one is appearing to be far less devastating than anyone had originally thought.
I'm no fan of big oil but I have some experience with big oil spills and this one is appearing to be far less devastating than anyone had originally thought.
The only long term effect I've heard of that appears to be valid is the hit the oyster beds have taken. Apparently, there aren't as many young oysters and that would translate into higher prices over the next couple of years.
It seems someone claims the well is leaking again every month or so, but always turns out false. Occasionally a very small oil sheen will be spotted somewhere along the coast and it's always blamed on that well first, Then tests will reveal it's not from there and it's forgotton.
Every dead animal that washes up on a beach anywhere on the gulf coast is blamed on the leak. It could have propeller cuts and 5 hooks in its mouth but still killed by BP in some people's minds.
From what I've seen, BP is doing what is required of them. They pay for lost business that is legitimate and a lot that isn't. As things return to normal, they are scrutnizing those claims more. My brother in law is from Jean Lafitte, a small town of mostly shrimpers and fishermen. He told me he was disgusted by the apparent greed of the local politicians there shortly after the storm. They and their families were employed by BP for various do nothing jobs such as delivering cokes to BP workers stationed on boats in the bayous down to Grande Isle for $1500 or more a day each. Their boats mostly stayed tied up at the dock. There is still some people who see it as a cash bonanza and are looking for ways to get a piece. The people worst hit are getting help but in some cases, past financial reporting is hurting some. For example, a shrimper will file a claim with BP that his buisiness is off by 50% or totally gone for a few months. BP says OK, show us your receipts and previous years records and we'll pay based on those. They may even pay a little over that. The problem is that the records will not include the shrimp that were sold for cash and not reported. So the shrimper is saying hey, I lost $100k but his receipts and records only indicate $50k. He's angry but can't prove he was due anything more. Some aren't dishonest and just keep poor records. They will likely suffer due to that.
As far as I know, there aren't any major long term effects. By major, I mean something like oyster beds gone or ruined for 25 years, etc. The environment has been and will continue to bounce back. There's no evidence of oil out there now. There was a lot of talk about the oil destroying the salt marsh grasses and escalating the coastal erosion which is a serious long term issue, but that has been quiet lately too. I suspect it isn't as bad as claimed by the alarmists.
The worst long term problem is the way the government handled new permits and drilling afterwards. The moratorium was struck down but the O'bama administration used its influence to keep a defacto moratorium in place. Louisiana was not feeling the pinch of the recession as much as other areas due to the oil industry being such a big part of the local economy. Lots of people lost their jobs because of this and rigs sit unused in port or moved away to other areas. I've been told that the skilled workers have moved with the rigs and when things are allowed to proceed, there will probably be a shortage of workers. The useless policies of government have stifled a thriving business and have contributed to the high cost of gasoline.
It seems someone claims the well is leaking again every month or so, but always turns out false. Occasionally a very small oil sheen will be spotted somewhere along the coast and it's always blamed on that well first, Then tests will reveal it's not from there and it's forgotton.
Every dead animal that washes up on a beach anywhere on the gulf coast is blamed on the leak. It could have propeller cuts and 5 hooks in its mouth but still killed by BP in some people's minds.
From what I've seen, BP is doing what is required of them. They pay for lost business that is legitimate and a lot that isn't. As things return to normal, they are scrutnizing those claims more. My brother in law is from Jean Lafitte, a small town of mostly shrimpers and fishermen. He told me he was disgusted by the apparent greed of the local politicians there shortly after the storm. They and their families were employed by BP for various do nothing jobs such as delivering cokes to BP workers stationed on boats in the bayous down to Grande Isle for $1500 or more a day each. Their boats mostly stayed tied up at the dock. There is still some people who see it as a cash bonanza and are looking for ways to get a piece. The people worst hit are getting help but in some cases, past financial reporting is hurting some. For example, a shrimper will file a claim with BP that his buisiness is off by 50% or totally gone for a few months. BP says OK, show us your receipts and previous years records and we'll pay based on those. They may even pay a little over that. The problem is that the records will not include the shrimp that were sold for cash and not reported. So the shrimper is saying hey, I lost $100k but his receipts and records only indicate $50k. He's angry but can't prove he was due anything more. Some aren't dishonest and just keep poor records. They will likely suffer due to that.
As far as I know, there aren't any major long term effects. By major, I mean something like oyster beds gone or ruined for 25 years, etc. The environment has been and will continue to bounce back. There's no evidence of oil out there now. There was a lot of talk about the oil destroying the salt marsh grasses and escalating the coastal erosion which is a serious long term issue, but that has been quiet lately too. I suspect it isn't as bad as claimed by the alarmists.
The worst long term problem is the way the government handled new permits and drilling afterwards. The moratorium was struck down but the O'bama administration used its influence to keep a defacto moratorium in place. Louisiana was not feeling the pinch of the recession as much as other areas due to the oil industry being such a big part of the local economy. Lots of people lost their jobs because of this and rigs sit unused in port or moved away to other areas. I've been told that the skilled workers have moved with the rigs and when things are allowed to proceed, there will probably be a shortage of workers. The useless policies of government have stifled a thriving business and have contributed to the high cost of gasoline.
The beaches in the panhandle of Florida have always had periods of seaweed. I went on year in the 90s when the seaweed was so bad the waves rolled like pudding. I tend not to go in the late summer now. The beaches seem to always be clean in May and early June.
We live in Pensacola and just spent the weekend at the Margaritaville Beach Resort. We sail the bay and coastal waters all the time. The environment is fine. The beaches are beautiful. There are dolphins everywhere, and people were pulling record sized red snapper off the rigs and reefs.
We always get jellyfish in July, seaweed in August. Always have, probably always will. BP had nothing to do with it. Also, the Gulf seafloor naturally oozes hydrocarbons, because there's so much oil down there. Tarballs on the beach have always been there as a result. It's perfectly natural, if a bit unwelcome.
Come on down and visit. The water was clear and 87 degrees last weekend.
We always get jellyfish in July, seaweed in August. Always have, probably always will. BP had nothing to do with it. Also, the Gulf seafloor naturally oozes hydrocarbons, because there's so much oil down there. Tarballs on the beach have always been there as a result. It's perfectly natural, if a bit unwelcome.
Come on down and visit. The water was clear and 87 degrees last weekend.
Give me a break! 185 MILLION GALLONS (4.4 Million Barrels) of crude is spilled into the Gulf and suddenly it vanishes???...who are we kidding?? Of course there are those who say 'I can't see it so it can't be a problem'. Prince William Sound in Alaska is still 20 years later suffering from the long term effects of that devastation caused by the Exxon Valdez and the BP spill is MANY times bigger.
Burying ones head in the sand, so to speak, will never put right the extent of the devastation that was caused. You don't need to put your hand in the fire to know that it's hot. You don't need to spill oil to know that it kills and pollutes our environment and wild life. Depending on who pays for the studies that will come you can already know which way the 'facts' will be spun. BP and big oil will of course try to tell us that there was little or no impact. The truth though is something else entirely.
Burying ones head in the sand, so to speak, will never put right the extent of the devastation that was caused. You don't need to put your hand in the fire to know that it's hot. You don't need to spill oil to know that it kills and pollutes our environment and wild life. Depending on who pays for the studies that will come you can already know which way the 'facts' will be spun. BP and big oil will of course try to tell us that there was little or no impact. The truth though is something else entirely.
Nobody said it "vanished" Alan. Also, nobody knows the real long-term effects, if any, which will result so there is no "truth" yet. Not that it fits your perception but I and others who both live here and understand the on-going environmental impact analyses don't share your view that it must be a disaster. There is no definitive evidence yet.
From a purely aesthetic point of view, there has been no impact except in very localized areas in Louisiana.
I was at Pensacola Beach/ Perdido beach area July 4th weekend.
The only problem I noticed was that a couple of times after I walked the beach I had 2 or 3 spots of tar on my feet. We also saw some occaisional very small tar balls.
The marine life seems to be okay from what I can tell on the surface.
We sailed form Pensacola beach to Destin and saw no oil slick or anything. Lots of dolphi, sea turtles, sharks, etc.
I'm sure there is a problem underwater somewhere, but it is not evident on the beaches.
The only problem I noticed was that a couple of times after I walked the beach I had 2 or 3 spots of tar on my feet. We also saw some occaisional very small tar balls.
The marine life seems to be okay from what I can tell on the surface.
We sailed form Pensacola beach to Destin and saw no oil slick or anything. Lots of dolphi, sea turtles, sharks, etc.
I'm sure there is a problem underwater somewhere, but it is not evident on the beaches.
This leak and the Exxon Valdez spill are different in a few ways. First, the type or viscosity of the oil is different. The BP spill was mostly thinner oil that creates a sheen on the water and not the thick goop that was all over in Alaska. Second, the water temperature is much higher which aides dispersement/evaporation. Third, a lot of chemical dispersants were pumped at the well head and may have dispersed much of it before it reached the surface. Fourth, and this is my opinion, how do you know it was 185mln gallons? I have wondered if the estimates were possibly wrong on top of all the other things. Lastly, It's been over a year, warm open water and currents have all contributed to the impression you have that it just vanished. Nobody is going to blindly accept BP's reports. There are too many different people testing.
Info from just a few minutes ago:
DATE: August 30, 2011 2:59:43 PM CDT
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative awards $112.5 million to 8 research consortia studying oil spill
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI) Research Board announced that eight research consortia will receive a total of $112.5 million in funding for the next three years. The research consortia teams will investigate the fate of petroleum in the environment, the impacts of the spill, and the development of new tools and technology for responding to future spills and improving mitigation and restoration. The GRI Research Board is an independent body established by BP to administer the company’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to independent research into the effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident. More information on GRI research consortia grant recipients.
View this document online
Gulf Coast Restoration Organization
Louisiana Gulf Coast Restoration
DATE: August 30, 2011 2:59:43 PM CDT
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative awards $112.5 million to 8 research consortia studying oil spill
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GRI) Research Board announced that eight research consortia will receive a total of $112.5 million in funding for the next three years. The research consortia teams will investigate the fate of petroleum in the environment, the impacts of the spill, and the development of new tools and technology for responding to future spills and improving mitigation and restoration. The GRI Research Board is an independent body established by BP to administer the company’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to independent research into the effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident. More information on GRI research consortia grant recipients.
View this document online
Gulf Coast Restoration Organization
Louisiana Gulf Coast Restoration
It's more crowded in the Gulf now with all these "research" vessels than it was during the spill. The theory must be that more samples collected will remove whatever oil remains.
Overall I have mixed emotions on this subject. I spent a week out over the 4th of July, over in Mississippi Sound, just diddling around. As far east as Biloxi. Water looked good, and saw more dolphins around Cat Island than I have ever seen. Went to a fishing tournament weigh in a week later, and all seemed well. Heard no talk of oil, poor fishing or any other related problems. But a recent report in the gulf coast paper out of Biloxi, reported 183 dead kemp ridley turtles washed up in the month of April. It said that NOAA is pretty much blaming shrimpers. Nothing about shrimping has changed, and this is a high number for dead turtles washed up. Sounds a little strange to me. Also BP has purchased a large portion of Cat Island. The western most of the barrier islands in Mississippi Sound, and the only one that is not federally owned. Last time I was out there, a lot of activity going on, with barges, cranes, and crew boats running back and forth. I'm not a conspiracy nut, but I really don't trust all those involved either. Overall I think BP is doing their best to clean up this mess. I'm just not sure the PR dept. isn't doing their best to make BP look as good as possible.
Here's another update on this story.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/09/201191716821664814.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/09/201191716821664814.html
Don't ya love incomplete reporting.. Nothing is said or is known about the blood levels of those chemicals in those people before the spill.. Look at this link and especially paragraph 2 .. and the part that talks about ethylbenezene in cigarette smoke and paint and many other common things.. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp110-c2.pdf
I am not a proponent of oil spills but I am a proponent of responsible reporting... and not just sensationalism..
I am not a proponent of oil spills but I am a proponent of responsible reporting... and not just sensationalism..
Of course not
Of course nothing is said about that because they never would have had a reason to get that tested previously. Clearly, that's because they weren't experiencing these symptoms before.
Nope.. I don't accept that they weren't experiencing those symptoms before.. again that is not known .. I have seen amazing cases of malingering when deep pockets are involved.. I have a very jaded view of this stuff unless backed by facts. Yes, I can accept that the claims might be legitimate, but I would have to have some data. Yes, I used to work for a big multinational oil company.. and I have seen problems that were caused by the company.. but I have seen many more lies and unfounded suits filed against the company than I have seen the other way.. Yes I am probably biased, but it is based on my own experience.
non biased
For those who simply want to know what has happened there, and are willing to read without the pro-oil industry bias that Kloudie admits he has, I suggest you read the article referred to. The people were found to have the same chemicals in their body that were in the oil and the dispersants. Where did those chemicals come from? Even in a US court of law circumstantial evidence is accepted.
John, My point is that I trust folks who give facts, and couch those facts in reality.. Yes the article can say the guy has ethylbenezene in his blood.. but I would bet that you do as well, because of where you live. Nothing is said about the amounts nor is anything said about the standard amounts.. Looking at an article from AlJazeera (or CNN for instance) or the Center for Disease Control, I would tend to have more trust in the CDC article, which has data to show the impact of the facts. I didn't say I was biased toward Big Oil, I said I was biased toward reporting things in a way that reflects reality. Your reality is different from mine and biased as well.. I live and sail in places that the spill affected .. and I am not pleased that it happened but I think that an honest effort is being made to remediate the residual problems. Consider this.. many (not all) private fishermen do business on a cash basis.. Much of that income is not reported so that taxes aren't paid.. Now a spill happens and BP says it will reimburse for lost income.. but income was not reported (a practice that I am not entirely against, but there is risk) so there is no lost income to report. Another way that a person could be compensated would be to file suits against the company that have a lot of emotional appeal but little proof of the cause and effect.. I am not saying that is the case reported in your article but the article does not report enough so that a person can make a decision, hence my jaded look at this.
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