Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

 

 

In addition to tragically losing the lives of 11 workers, The Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the coast of Louisiana is gearing up to be one of the largest ecological disasters of our lives.  We have compiled sources of information and news to keep you informed of the past, current and future efforts to limit this disaster.  As of May 13, 2010, approximately 13,000 personnel have been deployed, over 510 vessels are responding, over 1.5 million feet of boom have been deployed, nearly 4 million gallons of oil-water mix have been recovered, approximately 436,000 gallons of dispersant have been deployed, and 14 staging areas have been set up to protect vital shoreline.


Photo credit: 
NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.com
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4575486942/
Photo credit: 
NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.com
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4580384522/
Photo credit: 
NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4557390211/
 

CONTACT INFO

Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center
(985) 902-5231 and (985) 902-5240

Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information:
(866)-448-5816

Submit alternative response technology, services or products:
(281) 366-5511

Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system:
(281) 366-5511

Submit a claim for damages:
(800) 440-0858

Report oiled wildlife:
(866) 557-1401

Gulf Response Involvement Team (G.R.I.T.):  Volunteers Interested in Assisting in Oil Clean-Up in Louisiana Should Sign Up and Stand By
http://gulfresponse.org/

 

 

INFORMATION SOURCES 

The BP website provides detailed information on their response, including press releases, fact sheets, photos, maps and more.
http://www.bp.com/productlanding.do?categoryId=40&contentId=7061696

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a website on the impacts of the spill and their response.
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/

The Deepwater Horizon Response website provides information on the response from the U.S. Coast Guard and other responding agencies.
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

NASA Satellite Imagery: Keeping Eye on the Gulf Spill provides satellite imagery of the oil spill.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/oil-creep.html

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website provides up-to-date information, fact sheets, trajectory maps, and more.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=809&subtopic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=2&topic_id(entry_subtopic_topic)=1

CNN’s Interactive Oil Spill Tracking Map shows the past and present movement of the spill.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/29/interactive.spill.tracker/index.html

 

NEWS ARTICLES

Here are some interesting articles detailing the tragedy and efforts to date to correct the problem.  They are arranged chronologically.

Oil Rig Explosion Injures Workers and Causes Raging Fire off Louisiana Coast
By Michael Murray, ABC World News, April 21, 2010
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/oil-rig-explosion-drilling-rig-off-louisiana-coast/story?id=10437155

Why It’s so Tough to Stop the Gulf Oil Leak
Host: Neal Conan, Talk of the Nation, NPR, April 29, 2010
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126390880&ft=1&f=1025

Last Resort Safety Device Failed in Fatal Drilling Incident
By Joe Carroll and Mark Chediak, April 30, 2010, Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601072&sid=a2..tsZGi8tQ

NASA Satellite Imagery Keeping Eye on the Gulf Oil Spill
ScienceDaily, May 1, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100430131155.htm

Climate Bill Could be Harmed by Gulf Spill
By Matthew Daly and Noaki Schwartz (AP), May 2, 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1ILRRkcNjneF_bdAFEM39f6F-dAD9FECLIO0

U.S. Presses BP to Stop Gushing Gulf Coast Oil Leak
By Matthew Bigg, Reuters, May 3, 2010, Environmental News Network
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41281

President Obama – We’ll Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ To Stop This Oil Crisis
By Scott Horsley, NPR, May 3, 2010, Environmental News Network
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41280

BP Oil Rig’s Sinking and Gushing Crude Raise Questions
By Janet Raloff, ScienceNews, May 3, 2010
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58817/title/BP_oil_rig%E2%80%99s_sinking_and_gushing_crude_raise_questions

Envisat Monitoring Changes in Oil Spill
ScienceDaily, May 4, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100503111529.htm

BP Aims to Stop Gulf Well Leak by Installing Valve (Update1)
By Jim Polson and Katarzyna Klimasinska, Bloomberg Businessweek, May 4, 2010
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-04/bp-aims-to-stop-gulf-well-leak-by-installing-valve-update1-.html

Recovery Efforts After Gulf Coast Oil Spill Could Be as Damaging as Its Cause, Wetlands Expert Says
ScienceDaily, May 4, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100504135520.htm

Caution Required for Gulf Oil Spill Clean-Up, Bioremediation Expert Says
ScienceDaily, May 4, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100504142110.htm

Gulf Oil Spill a Slow-Motion Hurricane: Timing of Landfall Could be Key to Damage
By Janet Raloff, ScienceNewsMay 4, 2010
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58846/title/Gulf_oil_spill_a_slow-motion_hurricane

Delicate Work Unfolds a Mile Beneath the Gulf; Engineers Operate Submarines Via Joystick
By Harry R. Weber and Ray Henry, Associated Press Writers, Chicago Tribune, May 5, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-gulf-oil-spill-fixes,0,6475847.story

U.S. Exempted BP's Gulf of Mexico Drilling From Environmental Impact Study
By Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, May 5, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/04/AR2010050404118.html?sid=ST2010050405322

A Gulf Spill News Review: As Oil Approaches the Coast, New Drilling is Underway and Temporary Oil-trapping Technologies are Deployed
By Janet Raloff, ScienceNews, May 5, 2010
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58882/title/A_Gulf_spill_news_review

Unable to Stanch Oil, BP Will Try to Gather It
By Sam Dolnick and Henry Fountain, The New York Times, May 5, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/science/06container.html

Corps Looks At Water Diversions To Protect Louisiana Coast
By Angelle Bergeron, ENR.com, Engineering News-Record, May 5, 2010
http://enr.ecnext.com/coms2/article_inen100505OilWaterDive

Gulf Coast Oil Spill:  Health Questions
By Gina Solomon, MD, MPH, NRDC Simple Steps, May 5, 2010
http://www.simplesteps.org/articles/gulf-coast-oil-spill-health-questions

Breton National Wildlife Refuge Closed to Public Entry
The first shoreline impact was confirmed at Breton National Wildlife Refuge on May 5, 2010.  Oil was found on both sides of the southern half of the Chandeleur Islands.
May 7, 2010
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/541699/

NOAA Expands Commercial and Recreational Fishing Closure in Oil-Affected Portion of Gulf of Mexico
May 7, 2010
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/

Officials Look to Mississippi River to Help in Oil-Spill Fight
By Brian Winter, USA Today, May 7, 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-05-06-oil-river_N.htm

Media Advisory: Tarballs Recovered from Dauphin Island, Ala.
Deepwater Horizon Response News Advisory, May 8, 2010
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/542947/

Media Advisory: Oil Spill Rescued Birds to be Released Monday‏
Deepwater Horizon Response News Advisory, May 9, 2010
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/543275/

Nitrogen-Cement Mix Is Focus of Gulf Inquiry
By Justin Gillis and John M. Broder, The New York Times, May 10, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/us/11hearings.html

Two Oil Firms Link Rig Blast to 'Plug'
By Russell Gold, Stephen Power, and Vanessa O’Connell, The Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2010
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704879704575236553480511416.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Photo Release:  Beach Cleaning/Insertion Tube Option
Deepwater Horizon Response, May 11, 2010
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/548915/

Video Release:  Crater Plume Gassing
This video shows the oil and gas stream from the larger of the two existing leaks on the riser of the Deepwater Horizon well. 
Deepwater Horizon Response, May 11, 2010
 https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/548775/

Tarballs on Dauphin Island Beaches Believed to Be From Gulf Spill
Deepwater Horizon Response, May 12, 2010
https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/2931/548987/

Rush to Drill Deeper Carries Added Risks
By Mike Baker and Jason Dearen, The Associated Press, May 12, 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iJEtui-hzwaWwmm69UWEJPINdD3gD9FLBR600

Senate Gets a Climate and Energy Bill, Modified by a Gulf Spill That Still Grows
By John M. Broder, The New York Times, May 12, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html

Oil Spill Investigators Find Critical Problems in Blowout Preventer
By Steven Mufson and David A. Fahrenthold, The Washington Post, May 13, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/12/AR2010051202190.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2010051102889

House Panel:  Flaws in the Well
The Washington Post, May 13, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/05/12/GR2010051205263.html?tid=grpromo

 

ALTERNATIVE CLEANUP TECHNOLOGIES

Below are some articles showcasing new technologies and ideas for oil cleanups. 

Scientists Harness Virtual Reality to Aid Oil Spill Cleanup Effort
By Ariel Schwartz, May 4, 2010, Inhabitat.com
http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/04/scientists-harness-virtual-reality-to-aid-gulf-oil-spill-cleanup-effort/

“Rock Breathing” Bacteria Could Help Soak Up Oil Spill in Gulf
By Brit Liggett, May 4, 2010, Inhabitat.com
http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/04/rock-breathing-bacteria-could-help-soak-up-oil-spill-in-gulf/

Oil Spill Cleanup Goes Low Tech With Hair Booms
USA Today, May 4, 2010
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/05/oil-spill-cleanup-goes-low-tech-with-hair-booms-/1

Officials Weigh Pros, Cons of Using Dispersant Chemicals on Gulf Spill
By Caleb Hellerman, CNN, May 4, 2010
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/04/gulf.oil.spill.dispersant/

5 Innovative Solutions That Clean Up Oil Spills
By Yuka Yoneda, Inhabitat.com, May 5, 2010
http://inhabitat.com/2010/05/05/top-5-green-ways-to-clean-up-oil-spills/

 

PLANTS AND WILDLIFE
Photo credit:  IBRRC on Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibrrc/4584332631/in/photostream/

The oil spill will negatively impact the plants, wildlife and ecosystems in its path.  The Gulf of Mexico is home to 10 species of threatened sharks, 6 species of endangered turtles, manatees, whales and fish within its deeper waters.  Dozens of species of fish and shellfish also lay their eggs on the surface of the water.  Oil spills affect the smallest and largest marine life, and threaten life up and down the food chain.  For more detailed information, read the article below.
Concerns Up and Down the Food Chain
By Leslie Kaufman, the New York Times, May 4, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/science/earth/05ecology.html

Here are some interesting links to information and articles on issues relating to the plants and wildlife that could be affected.

Spills Effects Underwater Fact Sheet
The New York Times, May 5, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/05/05/us/05ecology_graphic1.html?ref=earth

NOAA Closes Commercial and Recreational Fishing in Oil-Affected Portion of Gulf of Mexico
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, May 2, 2010

NOAA’s Oil and Sea Turtle Webpage
 http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/topic_subtopic_entry.php?RECORD_KEY%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=entry_id,subtopic_id,topic_id&entry_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=9&subtopic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=13&topic_id%28entry_subtopic_topic%29=1

Caribbean Conservation Corporation - Sea Turtle Threats: Oil Spills
 http://www.cccturtle.org/seaturtleinformation.php?page=oilspills

In the Crosshairs— Louisiana’s Rich Wildlife Is At Risk
This blog provides a link to a field guide that provides information on the many plant and animal species in the area.
 April 30, 2010
 http://wild.enature.com/blog/louisianas-rich-wildlife-is-at-risk/?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=e74a7a1d06-On_the_Wild_Side_April_20104_30_2010&utm_medium=email

The Nature Conservancy’s Oyster Reef Restoration Map
http://www.nature.org/popups/features/art31456.html

The Nature Conservancy’s Shellfish Restoration Network
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/marine/strategies/shellfish.html

Wildlife Still Exposed to Exxon Valdez Oil 20 Years After Disaster
ScienceDaily, April 14, 2010
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100414111018.htm