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BP Gulf Coast Oil Disaster Memorial
BP Gulf Coast Oil Disaster Memorial
April 20, 2010
Background and Implications
The BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, was the largest oil disaster in American history. It has been one year since this tragedy, but the damaged ecological systems and affected communities are only beginning to cope with its effects. This disaster continues to claim the lives of humans and animals, and the recovery process is likely to last for decades. Rebuilding efforts have harnessed tremendous local resilience and dedication, but systemic progress to avoid another tragedy has been slow. As the U.S. stands at a critical junction in charting a course toward a safe, healthy, and sustainable future, these pages compile resources for a fresh discussion about the risks of an oil-based economy.
Resources related to the BP Gulf Coast Oil Disaster and its aftermath include:
On April 20, 2010, the BP drilling platform Deepwater Horizon exploded and caught on fire. The disaster killed 11 men and leaked over 200 million gallons of oil before BP was able to cap the well on July 15, 2010. The Obama Administration’s formal investigation revealed that BP was neither prepared, nor adequately cautious about the risks of drilling in such deep waters. The bipartisan commission came to the same conclusion with regard to the federal government's Minerals Management Service. While affected communities seek government leadership for healthcare and ecologically appropriate restoration, proposals for risky additional drilling continue to surface on the national agenda.
The BP Disaster wreaked havoc on ecosystems, communities whose livelihood is based on the Gulf, and the region in general. The spill area alone includes over 8,000 species, and mammal deaths caused by this tragedy may be as much as 50 times the number of carcasses still being recovered. Significant quantities of toxic compounds from oil and dispersant have also been brought onshore by tides and air currents, causing illness in local residents and animals. These chemicals move up the food chain and further restrict the livelihood of fishing communities already experiencing shortages in catch. Disbursement processes at the BP Spill Fund have often been slow and wrangled.
Subsequent to the BP Gulf Coast Disaster, audits of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) at the U.S. Department of the Interior found that, among other faults, the agency was too lenient toward the very companies it was required to regulate. The Obama Administration consequently replaced MMS with a new agency - the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE). After a volley of moratoria and lawsuits on offshore exploration, BOEMRE issued permits for the drilling of eleven deepwater wells although a number of safety issues remain to be addressed.
Background and General Resources
Environmental and Community Implications
Regulatory Aftermath