Climate change and oil spills, what is the connection? Why should I discuss oil spill on an a site devoted to climate change? The connections are real, are informative, and are important.
On Earth Day (April 22) 2010 the state-of-the-art oil drilling platform the Deepwater Horizon sank in the Gulf of Mexico following a well blow-out and subsequent fire. The Deepwater Horizon was under contract to BP, and was drilling an exploratory well in 5000 feet of water approximately 42 miles from shore. At this point, even if BP would be able to immediately stop the flow of oil from a ruptured pipe into the Gulf of Mexico the oil leak would still be an environmental and economic disaster of historic proportions. The location and timing of the accident could hardly be worse. The Gulf of Mexico has the most productive fishery in the world, the home of many National Wildlife Refuges, and provides vital habitat for migratory birds, waterfowl and marine mammals. It is the spring breeding season, with some species nesting and reproducing and others seeking food to feed their young. In contrast to previous spills such as the 1969 Santa Barbara leak and the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill much of the Gulf coastline is not a hard surface that can be readily cleaned, but rather consists of extensive marshes that cannot be cleaned, and whose vegetation and decaying organic matter will act as a sponge, absorbing and then slowly releasing oil back into the environment. The sensitive coastal marshes, which have been vanishing at a rapid rate, are actually several feed of mud covered with with vegetation which both holds them in place and provides wildlife habitat. If the stabilizing vegetation is killed, only unstable mud flats will remain; and will shortly vanish.
The site is also located near a branch, or loop, of the Gulf Stream virtually ensuring that some, unknown amount of oil will be carried from the Gulf and up the East Coast of the United States. In addition, hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico officially starts June 1st, 39 days after the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon, with the potential for severe disruption of attempts to control the leaking oil and the cleanup of impacted areas, and to increase the spread of the oil.
And least we forget, the big connection between climate change and oil – politics! At the time of the Deepwater horizon/BP accident, in the U.S. Senate, Senators Kerry and Lieberman had been preparing to release the long-anticipated climate bill that they had been drafting with the cooperation of Senator Graham. In order to gain support of industry their draft contains something for everyone, including support for “expanded” off-shore oil drilling. Yes, a climate change bill intended to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that actually calls for expanded drilling for oil! Shortly before the planned (and cancelled) press conference to unveil the draft bill, it was announced that 3 large oil companies would endorse the bill. Leaked information identified the companies as BP, Shell and ConocoPhillips. It now appears likely that the inclusion of the drilling provision has doomed the bill, and thus most likely any chance of Congress passing climate legislation for many years.
There has long been a close relationship between “big oil” and the U. S. government. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill would probably have been avoided if the government regulator, the USGS, had not acceded to Union Oil’s request to waive the Federal safety requirements regarding the well casing. Subsequent investigations identified the USGS decision to bypass Federal regulations and permit Union Oil to lower its costs by installing a shorter casing than required as the primary cause of that accident. Today, the Washington Post reported that on April 26, 2009 the Minerals Management Service (U.S. Dept. of the Interior) granted BP/Deepwater Horizon operation a “categorical exclusion” from preparing an Environmental Impact Statement as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Reports prepared by both MMS and BP concluded that any oil spill was unlikely, and that if any oil were to spill the impact upon the environment would be minimal with no oil reaching the shore. The BP exploration plan submitted for the lease stated that "no mitigation measures other than those required by regulation and BP policy will be employed to avoid, diminish or eliminate potential impacts on environmental resources." Consequently, there were no backup plans in case of a massive accident. BP told the government that it would do the minimum required, and no more, and the government basically said “fine, here is a lease of public property in an environmentally sensitive area”.
The current BP oil disaster closely follows coal mining accidents in China and the West Virginia accident in the US; and should be a stark lesson that our dependence upon fossil fuels is dangerous and harmful to both mankind and the environment upon which we depend. If we had the willingness to break our dependence upon fossil fuels, curb CO2 emissions, and protect our planet’s environment for future generations it would also have immediate benefits to our economy, environment and health.
The fact that we must dig and drill deeper should make it apparent that we are exhausting our fossil fuel resources and will be forced to seek alternate sources of energy. The Deepwater Horizon/BP, recent mining, accidents should be a wakeup call that the time to start the transition away from fossil fuels is now. These incidents also clearly demonstrate why sound climate change legislation is of economic and environmental concern. The economic loss from the Deepwater Horizon accident will be severe and long-lasting. Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez accident, fishermen are still not working and the oil which is found just below the surface of the beaches will take decades to dissipate. At this point there is no reason to believe that the situation in the Gulf will be any less. Sound climate change legislation would diminish our need for fossil fuels, protect and expand the economy, and protect our planet and the environment that we depend on.
We need legislation, and legislators, who will do what is right for our children, grandchildren and the planet that will be their home; not just pander to special interests. Is that too much to ask?
