oil spill[/caption]
Charity Bailey----Since the time of the Industrial Revolution, the world has raced to meet an ever-increasing demand for oil. Over the years, there have been several significant incidents that have had grave consequences on the environment, marine life and economies that rely on their production. Three examples and their implications are summarized below.
Exxon Valdez
In 1989, the oil tanker known as the Exxon Valdez crashed into the Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Severe damage to the vessels hull allowed 11 million gallons of crude oil to spill into the water. This presented a unique challenge to those involved in the clean-up efforts, as both the geographic location of the spill and diversity of indigenous marine and wildlife represented the potential for major environmental damage.
Three primary entities, including the Alyeska foundation (which represented oil interests), the EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard, spearheaded initial containment of the clean-up process. In addition to the isolated location of the spill that delayed the arrival of additional crew and equipment was the lack of on-hand resources maintained by Alyeska. One of the primary methods of containing an oil spill is through the use of chemical disbursements, and the amount available was woefully inadequate to improve the Valdez situation.
The Persian Gulf
Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991, an American military force was sent to secure the expansive and lucrative Kuwaiti oil fields that lie adjacent to the Persian Gulf. While the campaign was successful in restoring the independence of the country, it failed to do so before Iraqi soldiers sabotaged major oil operations, causing 240 to 360 million gallons to spill into the Gulf.
As in the Exxon Valdez incident just two years prior, clean-up operations were hampered significantly by geographic location and lack of staff and resources. Given the magnitude of the spill and the presence of an active war zone, there was concern that the Gulf would be unable to sustain life for many years in the future. Clean-up efforts primarily funded by the Saudi Arabian government continue today, and there are surprising signs of renewal.
Deepwater Horizon
The most notable environmental crisis in U.S. history occurred as a result of the Deepwater Horizon drilling station exploding, killing 11 people and spewing 210 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This event happened only miles from the southern coast of the United States, and it devastated the commercial fishing and tourism industries in states such as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida.
The damage resulted in a 65-percent drop in home values by and a 50 percent reduction in retail sales along the Gulf Coast. Residents are still attempting to recover these economic costs as part of a multi-billion dollar settlement with British Petroleum (BP) and the other parties found legally responsible for the spill. To date, 195,000 claims have been filed by individuals seeking restitution for economic loss.
Response
A key piece of legislation called the Oil Pollution Act was passed in 1990 as a direct response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. This bill significantly expanded regulations on both oil tankers and their operators, allocated resources in a spill response fund and established a federal response plan for future incidents. It is true that these regulations failed to prevent the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and there are vocal groups calling for a permanent end to oil exploration efforts off of American coastlines. But oil is big money, and it is unlikely that domestic drilling will end in the near future.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment
Say something constructive. Negative remarks and name-calling are not allowed.