BP CEO Speaks Again!
‘Significant Changes’ Needed in Deepwater Drilling
“I don’t believe it should [result in a ban], in the same way as Apollo 13 did not stop the space program nor have serious airline accidents from time to time stopped people flying.” Mr Hayward told BBC.
Oil debris are seen attached to oyster shells on Raccoon Island shoreline, Louisiana, May 12, 2010. U.S. Navy photo
What Mr Howard didn’t say was that the explosion aboard Apollo 13 was a minor explosion, which was in no way comparable to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
He now concedes that deep water drilling is a very risky business, however.
“I think undoubtedly that this will be a transforming event for exploration and production activities in the deep water of the world, in particular the deep water of the United States,” he said.
Cozy Relationship
Meanwhile President Barrack Obama has declared that the epoch of “cozy relationship” between oil firms and US regulators is over.
“For too long, for a decade or more, there’s been a cozy relationship between the oil companies and the federal agency that permits them to drill,” Obama said.
“That cannot and will not happen anymore,” Obama added.
Well now. Let’s see. If what he says is true, that just leaves only a few more dozens of “cozy relationships” with the regulators/lawmakers: The banking and finance industry, auto industry, pharmaceuticals, nuke power, military-industrial, airlines …
Environmental group suing U.S. Govt over oil permits
The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, has filed a notice of intent to sue Ken Salazar the U.S. Interior Secretary, and the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) for failing to get the necessary environmental permits, required by two environmental laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act, before approving offshore oil operations.
Since Salazar took office in 2009, his office has approved at least 3 lease sales, more than a total of 400 seismic surveys and drilling operations without applying for the necessary environmental permits designed to protect endangered marine species, the group says.
“The Department of the Interior and the Minerals Management Service are creating a lawless zone in the Gulf of Mexico when it comes to these environmental laws. The oil companies really get to call the shots.” Miyoko Sakashita, the center’s oceans director told reporters.
“The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act prohibit private entities, such as oil companies, as well as federal agencies, such as the Minerals Management Service — the branch of the Interior Department responsible for managing offshore oil activities — from killing, harming, or harassing marine mammals, unless they have received authorizations and take measures to minimize the impacts of their activities. The Endangered Species Act protects species such as the sperm whale, which is listed as endangered, while the Marine Mammal Protection Act applies to all marine mammals, such as the bottlenose dolphin and the Florida manatee.” The group said in their notice.
Lawsuit to Challenge Salazar’s Wholesale Disregard of Marine Mammal Protection Laws in Gulf of Mexico: 400-plus Oil Projects Illegally Approved by Salazar Without Permits to Harm Endangered Whales
Ongoing Risk of Deepwater Drilling
The fact remains however that there are at least 77 drilling rigs and commercially producing oil platforms operating in deep waters of Gulf of Mexico, and many more are slated to go on line.
Also, Fire-Earth Moderators forecast the probability of another major oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico between now and December 2011 at greater than 90 percent. SEE: https://feww.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/fire-earth-forecasts-10-major-oil-spills-to-end-2011/
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