Gulf of Mexico still in crisis four months after BP explosion

By Kierán Suckling, (520) 275-5960
August 20, 2010 NEW ORLEANS— Today marks the end of the fourth month since BP’s negligence and lack of government oversight caused the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig to explode, sending more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. To assess how much damage was done and is continuing, the Center for Biological Diversity sent a team to the Gulf to assess the state of its beaches, marshes, waters and wildlife. What the Center’s team saw was horrific. “Touring the Gulf of Mexico this week I’ve seen firsthand how oil is still killing wildlife and fouling beaches and marshes,” said Kierán Suckling, the Center’s executive director. “This crisis is far from over.” On Grand Isle, the team found beaches covered in oil. Pools of liquid oil lie on the surface, and oil mixed with sand is hardened in mats along the water’s edge. Some beaches appear fine from a distance but are actually sitting atop massive amounts of oil, which bubbled to the surface when the team walked across the sand. Digging into the sand with rubber gloves, the Center’s team struck oil just six inches below the clean-looking surface. Crabs and birds continue to be covered in oil as they cross the beaches or land in the marshes. Fish and sea turtles are forced to swim through oil on the surface and below the surface as they look for food. In short, a full four months post-explosion, the Gulf of Mexico is still an oily mess despite rosy assertions by oil companies and the Obama administration two weeks ago that most of the oil is gone. The Center’s survey supports the conclusion of independent scientists, who announced findings on Monday that 80 percent of the oil is still present and continues to foul the beaches, waters, marshes and wildlife of the Gulf. “Rather than downplay the oil damage, as it first downplayed estimates of the spill rate, the Obama administration should mobilize more money and workers to get this mess cleaned up,” said Suckling. …

Gulf of Mexico Still in Crisis Four Months After BP Explosion