UUSC Statement on Oil Drilling Disaster

UUSC is deeply concerned about the catastrophe created by the April 20, 2010, explosion and capsize of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon, leased by the multi-billion dollar corporation BP (formerly British Petroleum) and located off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion killed 11 workers and unleashed an environmental and economic tragedy in one the world’s most sensitive and fecund marine ecosystems.

An estimated 200,000 gallons of oil a day are leaking from the well, and efforts to halt the leak have not been successful. The oil slick now covers 4,500 square miles. It has reached the coast of Louisiana and is moving towards Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. A state of emergency has been declared for these areas. This oil drilling disaster will have a devastating effect on fish, water birds, wetlands, and seashores — as well as hundreds of communities whose livelihoods are intimately linked to the coastal environment. It is important that impacted communities have a voice in the recovery process and receive just compensation for loss of livelihoods.

It is difficult to estimate the environmental and economic impact of this disaster, but it will undoubtedly be vast. More than 400 species are threatened by the spill, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The estuarine food chain begins with miniscule organisms called plankton, which are at risk of being completely smothered by the oil slick. The fishing industry — already damaged by Hurricane Katrina — has been stalled, and possibly ruined, with the closure of the country’s most productive fishing grounds. In addition, the tourism industry, so vital for those along the coast, is seeing sharp declines.

Under current United States law, BP is liable to clean up the spill, with oversight from the Coast Guard and other federal agencies. BP failed to adequately respond to the leak when it happened, inaccurately underestimating its size and insisting it would not reach the coast. The federal government is being criticized for its initial reliance on BP’s information rather than independently investigating the situation. Royalties from offshore drilling contribute $10–12 billion dollars annually to the federal budget.

Efforts to stop the leak and clean up the massive oil slick include a plan to cap the well, burn off the oil, and use inflatable booms to contain the spill. To date, these efforts have done little to stem the flow of oil and prevent its further spread.

UUSC is consulting with our Gulf Coast allies to determine the best ways to pressure BP and the federal government to fulfill their responsibilities to clean up this oil drilling disaster, protect the environment, compensate those who suffer losses, and hold responsible parties accountable. The people of the Gulf Coast deserve no less.