http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/12/14/BP-asked-to-be-open-about-gulf-accident/UPI-11721355482965/
Published: Dec. 14, 2012 at 6:02 AM
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) — British energy company BP is suspected of withholding evidence about a new oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico, Democratic lawmakers said.
The U.S. Coast Guard, BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have worked to assess sheen observed in the Gulf of Mexico this fall. The Coast Guard confirmed that sheen was from the well that failed in 2010 and backed plans for a subsea survey.
U.S. Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Henry Waxman, D-Calif., members of House energy committees, called on BP, the Coast Guard and other concerned parties to disclose what they’ve learned about the latest incidents.
“There is no statute of limitations or protections for a crime against the environment, and BP should immediately hand over any and all information related to this new chapter in their oil spill disaster,” Markey said in a statement.
BP had put a 750-pound cap over an opening in the so-called cofferdam, which was a failed attempt to seal the leak that resulted from an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in 2010.
Duke Walker, federal on-scene coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon response, was quoted by New Orleans broadcaster WWL-TV as saying the “only” place oil could be was in the containment dome.
“During all three of our previous missions, we found no indications on any of the three well head sites, particularly the primary, that there was anything to be concerned about, and there was no sign of leaking oil,” he said. “Out of an abundance of caution, every time we’re down there, we’ll look again to verify that that’s the still case.”
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/12/10/BP-in-hot-seat-for-Gulf-of-Mexico-sheen/UPI-51801355142586/#ixzz2F8ALJCZv
UPI: BP in hot seat for Gulf of Mexico sheen
Published: Dec. 10, 2012 at 7:29 AM
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) — U.S. lawmakers said they were turning to the U.S. Coast Guard to get information about sheen from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig accident.
The Coast Guard, BP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have worked to assess sheen observed in the Gulf of Mexico in late September. The Coast Guard confirmed the sheen was from the well that failed in 2010 and backed plans for a subsea survey.
U.S. Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Henry Waxman, D-Calif., members of House energy committees, issued a letter to the Coast Guard requesting more information about sheen observed in the area of the Deepwater Horizon wreck.
Markey and Waxman said they were concerned about lingering environmental effects from the 2010 spill.
“It is imperative that BP take all available actions to mitigate further environmental damage from its oil spill,” the letter read.
A review of peer-reviewed research on the spill by the U.S. Geological Survey said “for the most part” oil spilled during the incident was consumed by bacteria.
BP had put a 750-pound cap over an opening in the so-called cofferdam, which was a failed attempt to seal the leak that resulted from an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in 2010.
Special thanks to Richard Charter