President Obama sent to Congress on Wednesday a legislative package aimed at supporting the ongoing response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and speeding-up assistance to those affected by the spill, even as BP searches for ways to contain the gushing oil in the gulf. The legislation which also strengthens and updates the oil spill liability system to better address catastrophic events, makes clear that the government will pursue relentlessly those responsible for the damage caused by the spill.
“The federal government will not relent in pursuing full compensation from the responsible parties for the expenses it has incurred for the damage caused by the spill”, a fact sheet on the proposed legislation said. “We will do everything in our power to protect our natural resources, rebuild what has been damaged, and help the Gulf region to persevere as it has done so many times before”.
Among the various measures aimed at responding to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the legislation permits:
- The Coast Guard to obtain one or more advances–up to $100 million each from the Principal Fund within the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
- The FDA to receive $2 million to monitor and respond to the environmental impact of the oil on seafood fished from the gulf and surrounding areas
- The Secretary of the Interior to receive $29 million for additional inspections, enforcement, studies and other activities that are outside of those recoverable from the responsible parties of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
- Assistance to affected individuals and businesses through: Oil Spill Unemployment Assistance; Nutrition Assistance: Employment Assistance and One-Stop Shop Assistance.
Read the Full Fact Sheet on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Legislative Package Here
Meanwhile as BP searches for other options to plug the leaking well, a smaller box know, as a “top hat”, as opposed to the 98-ton failed containment dome (big box), has been lowered in waters of 5,000 feet and is expected to be placed in position over the leak on Thursday. BP has said that heated water will be injected into this smaller box in an effort to keep the gas hydrates from clogging the system, as occurred in the “big box”.
BP is also considering another technique called a “junk shot” to plug the oil spill. This would entail pumping items such as golf balls and rubber in an effort to jam the leaking pipe, followed by cement to plug the leak. It is not clear whether such as operation will work, as the “junk shot” has not been attempted in depths of one mile under water.
BP has said that it will continue with its controlled burns, oil-dispersing chemicals and booms in an effort to help contain the oil spill.
The Coast Guard and BP estimate that some 5,000 barrels of crude a day are entering the Gulf since the explosion occurred on April 22nd, but environmentalists believe that this figure is grossly underestimated. They estimate that 25,000 barrels a day are gushing into the Gulf or five times more than what is being said.
It is estimated that more than 4 million gallons of oil have poured into the Gulf since the accident.
