Why Is the Gulf Cleanup So Slow?

[jmig]

We have had threads on the BP spill. earlier today one was started on the clean up process. I thought this was an interesting article by the Wall Street Journal. I have a brother who is in the supply boat business. i am in the production side of the oil and gas industry. So, I often hear from people who are on ground zero. I have read and heard second and third hand their stories.

This article focuses on the weaknesses of big government. Mainly (IMO) it is an 800 pound elephant in a melon field. Try as it might, it can't help but make a bigger mess.

My purpose is not to point fingers at any political figure or party but, to point out that in my opinion the federal government in many cases it not the proper tool or organization to get the job done. It is just too big and too cumbersome.

By PAUL H. RUBIN

Destin, Fla.
As the oil spill continues and the cleanup lags, we must begin to ask difficult and uncomfortable questions. There does not seem to be much that anyone can do to stop the spill except dig a relief well, not due until August. But the cleanup is a different story. The press and Internet are full of straightforward suggestions for easy ways of improving the cleanup, but the federal government is resisting these remedies.


First, the Environmental Protection Agency can relax restrictions on the amount of oil in discharged water, currently limited to 15 parts per million. In normal times, this rule sensibly controls the amount of pollution that can be added to relatively clean ocean water. But this is not a normal time.



Various skimmers and tankers (some of them very large) are available that could eliminate most of the oil from seawater, discharging the mostly clean water while storing the oil onboard. While this would clean vast amounts of water efficiently, the EPA is unwilling to grant a temporary waiver of its regulations.



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Getty Image




Next, the Obama administration can waive the Jones Act, which restricts foreign ships from operating in U.S. coastal waters. Many foreign countries (such as the Netherlands and Belgium) have ships and technologies that would greatly advance the cleanup. So far, the U.S. has refused to waive the restrictions of this law and allow these ships to participate in the effort.
The combination of these two regulations is delaying and may even prevent the world's largest skimmer, the Taiwanese owned "A Whale," from deploying. This 10-story high ship can remove almost as much oil in a day as has been removed in total—roughly 500,000 barrels of oily water per day. The tanker is steaming towards the Gulf, hoping it will receive Coast Guard and EPA approval before it arrives.


In addition, the federal government can free American-based skimmers. Of the 2,000 skimmers in the U.S. (not subject to the Jones Act or other restrictions), only 400 have been sent to the Gulf. Federal barriers have kept the others on stations elsewhere in case of other oil spills, despite the magnitude of the current crisis. The Coast Guard and the EPA issued a joint temporary rule suspending the regulation on June 29—more than 70 days after the spill.


The Obama administration can also permit more state and local initiatives. The media endlessly report stories of county and state officials applying federal permits to perform various actions, such as building sand berms around the Louisiana coast. In some cases, they were forbidden from acting. In others there have been extensive delays in obtaining permission.


As the government fails to implement such simple and straightforward remedies, one must ask why.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ctions_opinion

[dmaloof]

I have wondered of this. Cant the US NAVY be called in to help with this spill. They ahve the resources to resuce downed planes at bottom of ocean and they do have the technology to help out.

[Clarke123]

You know it's funny the US government closing ranks talking about British petroleum this and British petroleum that when it was primarily American involvement that caused this cock up. American CEO, sub-standard American manufactured parts and now this. Everyone's too busy conducting an arse covering campaign to just get stuff done. The first question asked was not "how do we fix this?". It was "who do we hang for it?" and priceless suggestions of hari kari. Now's the time to shut up and sort it while there's still chance.

[Wing_Z]

Kneejerk reaction in a crisis is to throw everything at it.
Often it's the worst thing to do...ask any fire insurance agent what does more damage: the fire or the gobs of foam and water put on it after.
Sure, when you have a plan, go for it.
Of course, in cases like this, everyone's an expert.
The BP website has had something like 10 million Really Good Suggestions about how to fix this.
I'd say, leave it to the experts and ensure they do their job.

For those Twits who Tweet, you can get your daily dose here:
http://twitter.com/bpglobalpr
They have some gems of comfort there, like these:
"Anyone accusing us of tarring and feathering pelicans is ignorant. They feathered themselves"

[Henry]

The first question asked was not "how do we fix this?". It was "who do we hang for it?" and priceless suggestions of hari kari. Now's the time to shut up and sort it while there's still chance.

thas has always been my point
H

[wombat666]

Operation Gulf Rescue Ramps Up


The problem: On the morning of April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit exploded, killing 11 people.
On the afternoon of April 22th, a large oil slick began to spread from the former rig site, and today this disaster is the largest offshore spill in U.S. history. Estimates vary as to how much oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, but experts agree that it is between 50,000 and 150,000 barrels of oil per day.
On May 19th, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and elsewhere stated that oil had reached the Loop Current. By June 4th, the oil spill had landed on 125 miles of Louisiana’s coast, washed up along Mississippi and Alabama barrier islands, and was found for the first time on a Florida barrier island at Pensacola Beach. The greatest concern has been that severe weather, as we enter hurricane season, might push the oil inland and over a far wider area, simultaneously rendering many clean-up and wildlife rescue operations useless or redundant.
On June 30th, Sea Shepherd Gulf Operations Liaison Dr. Bonny Schumaker and Sea Shepherd CEO Steve Roest attended a New Orleans Gulf oil spill coalition meeting. Extensive discussion was given to strategies for coordinating and implementing public sector support for the oil cleanup, for protection and rescue of the Gulf wildlife, and for recovery of the local economy.
The questions: Have the U.S. government and BP implemented the best strategies for oil clean-up and animal rescue? Why is a solution taking so long? What can be done to save marine life over the long term? Who should be involved? These are the questions everyone is asking, and while debate rages, Sea Shepherd is preparing for multiple operations to help in the rescue of animals.
Some answers: Sea Shepherd has already begun training volunteers and crew for hazmat/hazwoper (hazardous materials safety compliance) operations, and is preparing them for conditions in the Gulf. Sea Shepherd has been conducting reconnaissance surveys by air and sea across the affected areas for weeks, and trained volunteers will soon be in the area to carefully study and report on wildlife and ecosystems in the most contaminated areas.
Sea Shepherd is also currently preparing a large vessel in Europe to serve as a floating support facility for authorized, qualified experts working to rescue and protect wildlife and habitat in the Gulf. Veterinarians, scientists, researchers, and highly qualified oiled wildlife rescue experts will join our ship in the Gulf, and Sea Shepherd will also have qualified personnel available to assist with construction, transportation, and other needs. The Sea Shepherd floating Wildlife Care Center will be available to assist all authorized operations.

Doing our bit.

[jmig]

Operation Gulf Rescue Ramps Up


The problem: On the morning of April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit exploded, killing 11 people.
On the afternoon of April 22th, a large oil slick began to spread from the former rig site, and today this disaster is the largest offshore spill in U.S. history. Estimates vary as to how much oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, but experts agree that it is between 50,000 and 150,000 barrels of oil per day.
On May 19th, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and elsewhere stated that oil had reached the Loop Current. By June 4th, the oil spill had landed on 125 miles of Louisiana’s coast, washed up along Mississippi and Alabama barrier islands, and was found for the first time on a Florida barrier island at Pensacola Beach. The greatest concern has been that severe weather, as we enter hurricane season, might push the oil inland and over a far wider area, simultaneously rendering many clean-up and wildlife rescue operations useless or redundant.
On June 30th, Sea Shepherd Gulf Operations Liaison Dr. Bonny Schumaker and Sea Shepherd CEO Steve Roest attended a New Orleans Gulf oil spill coalition meeting. Extensive discussion was given to strategies for coordinating and implementing public sector support for the oil cleanup, for protection and rescue of the Gulf wildlife, and for recovery of the local economy.
The questions: Have the U.S. government and BP implemented the best strategies for oil clean-up and animal rescue? Why is a solution taking so long? What can be done to save marine life over the long term? Who should be involved? These are the questions everyone is asking, and while debate rages, Sea Shepherd is preparing for multiple operations to help in the rescue of animals.
Some answers: Sea Shepherd has already begun training volunteers and crew for hazmat/hazwoper (hazardous materials safety compliance) operations, and is preparing them for conditions in the Gulf. Sea Shepherd has been conducting reconnaissance surveys by air and sea across the affected areas for weeks, and trained volunteers will soon be in the area to carefully study and report on wildlife and ecosystems in the most contaminated areas.
Sea Shepherd is also currently preparing a large vessel in Europe to serve as a floating support facility for authorized, qualified experts working to rescue and protect wildlife and habitat in the Gulf. Veterinarians, scientists, researchers, and highly qualified oiled wildlife rescue experts will join our ship in the Gulf, and Sea Shepherd will also have qualified personnel available to assist with construction, transportation, and other needs. The Sea Shepherd floating Wildlife Care Center will be available to assist all authorized operations.

Doing our bit.

If the information from the WSJ is accurate, the US government will not allow you to help, or there will be so much red tape that you will go home early frustrated.

One of the items mentioned is foreign registered vessels aren't being allowed to help. Why???

BTW: I am grateful and thank you for your and everyone else's help. I just hope you are allowed to help.