Gulf Oil Spill Disaster
One year after the worst Gulf oil spill disasters in U.S. history. It’s clearly a sorry legacy of enduring damage. Also, people wronged and a region scarred remains. For the BP oil rig that exploded killed 11 workers and spewed some 170 million gallons of toxic crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Whether we look to habitat and wildlife, employment and pay, or basic health and family welfare. That’s because the BP oil blowout or Gulf Oil Spill disaster has devastated the region. In addition, the people of the Gulf Coast still live with the disaster every day.
Americans have the right to ask: are we any safer today? At the broadest level, the answer is no. Congress has failed to act on the lessons learned from the long chain of documented misjudgments, operational failings and oversight mistakes that led to the blowout. The oil industry, unbowed by a calamity of its own making. In addition, its Washington allies are resisting reforms that would make drilling safer. Finally, the administration has settled for half measures. That’s instead of the robust overhaul of safeguards it promised.
Coastal Communities
We cannot continue to place the lives of our workers. For the health of our waters, the survival of coastal economies, and the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s clearly at greater and also greater risk. Especially to sustain our costly and dangerous dependence on oil.
There is a better way.
Our leaders in Washington must restore the ecosystem of our Gulf oil spill disaster, make its people whole, and put the lessons learned to use. That means making drilling safer so a disaster like this never happens again, and moving toward clean energy sources that can’t spill or run out. There is no better way to honor the men who lost their lives and the people still struggling to keep their livelihoods afloat.
Determining the ecological impacts of even relatively small oil spills is tricky business. The scale, duration, and location of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill makes this ecological assessment one of the most challenging in history. Oil, gas, and chemical dispersants contaminated an unprecedented array of marine and coastal habitats—from the sea floor to the surface, far offshore and onshore at beaches and in marshlands. Research to date on the oil spill and its aftermath has shed some light on the level of complexity within Gulf ecosystems and how they respond to environmental assaults.
Gaining a real understanding of those systems and responses. However, it will also take scientists many years. In the wake of the Exxon Valdez disaster, for instance, ecological studies were not published until three years after the spill. All the while research on chronic harm took 10 years.
We have a long way to go!
The Bigger Picture:
Environmental Disasters
This incident brings to light the potential long-term impacts of environmental disasters.
Past Incidents
The Deepwater Horizon disaster, which occurred nearly two years ago, resulted in the worst accidental offshore oil spill in the energy industry’s history. This incident has led to various big-name companies pointing fingers at each other over who should bear the cost for the claims, damages, and fines.
Documenting the Impact
In marking the first anniversary of the BP oil spill, HBO Documentary Films released a documentary showcasing the devastating impact on the bird population in the Gulf of Mexico. The documentary reveals that over seven thousand birds were killed due to the spill, and the Fort Jackson Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Louisiana managed to rescue only 894 surviving oiled pelicans after three months.
Reports on Long-term Impacts
A recent report by Oceana titled “Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon” highlights the long-term impacts of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The report reviews recent studies and advocates for action against such disasters.
Conclusion
In the face of this ongoing crisis, the need for responsible and sustainable practices has never been more apparent. It’s a wake-up call for us all to prioritize the environment and prevent such disasters in future.
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council
