In addition to providing time to ensure that drilling safety on other rigs can be improved and their inadequate response plans verified, one primary reason for the present six-month Gulf of Mexico deepwater drilling moratorium is obviously to prevent a second spill from taking place while all of the equipment and effort remains focused on the massive response to the first blowout. While the 1969 Santa Barbara Blowout was STILL GOING ON, a SECOND BLOWOUT took place from another well on the same platform.
Here’s the link: http://www.countyofsb.org/energy/information/1969blowout.asp
“Another well experienced a blowout on the platform on February 24th resulting in an additional oil spill. Oil and gas escaped through acres of fractured ocean floor long after the well was plugged.”
Richard Charter
Would it be useful to put together a quick list of times when our society has responded to major failures by imposing some sort of moratorium?
Some examples I can think of:
Space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986 – shuttle program grounded for 2-1/2 years – http://tinyurl.com/95gq3
Air Force’s F-15 fighter jets, including those in service in Afghanistan, grounded for three months in 2007-2008 after one falls apart in flight – http://tinyurl.com/yceqtnk , http://tinyurl.com/2cunav8
Toyota recalls 34,000 luxury SUV’s over safety problems in 2010 – http://tinyurl.com/2fsxulk
Gov. of WV orders one-day suspension of coal mining across the state following Montcoal disaster in 2010 – http://tinyurl.com/2alvsh7
PA orders two operators to suspend gas-drilling activity pending results of state investigations at a spill site and a blowout site in 2010 – http://tinyurl.com/27pruoy , http://tinyurl.com/27pruoy
There must be many others that could help demonstrate that a moratorium to allow time to understand the BP / Macondo well failures and correct similar problems or deficiencies at other deepwater drilling projects has ample precedent at all levels of government, and is a reasonable and legitimate use of government powers. – John
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John Amos
John@skytruth.org
P.O. Box 3283
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3283
phone: 304-260-8886
skype: skytruth.amos
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