President Obama visited the Gulf coast on Sunday to survey the growing oil spill which is likely to become the biggest environmental and economic disaster in U.S. history. Speaking in Venice before an audience of local, state and federal officials; parish presidents and Louisiana’s Governor Bobby Jindal, Obama said that the spill is now nine miles off the coast of southeastern Louisiana.
“I think the American people are now aware, certainly the folks down in the Gulf are aware, that we’re dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster, ” Obama said. “The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf states and it could extend for a long time. It could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Americans who call this place home.”
Obama said that in view of the scale of the disaster, his administration had launched from day one a coordinated response to the crisis. He said that when the oil rig sank on April 22, immediately operations were launched to investigate the 5,000 feet of pipe on the floor of the ocean which led to the identification of three leaks.
“We’ve made preparations from day one to stage equipment for a worse-case scenario,” Obama said. “We immediately set up command center operations here in the Gulf and coordinated with all state and local governments. And the third breach was discovered on Wednesday.”
While Obama made clear that the cost of the disaster would be borne by BP, he said that his administration would not rest until the leak is stopped at the source and the oil on the Gulf is contained and cleaned up. He said that the most advanced technology available is being used to try and stop the leak which is more than 5,000 feet under the surface. This he said could take many days to stop given that the leak is unique and unprecedented.
“Let me be clear: BP is responsible for this leak; BP will be paying the bill. But as President of the United States, I’m going to spare no effort to respond to this crisis for as long as it continues, ” Obama said. “And we will spare no resource to clean up whatever damage is caused. And while there will be time to fully investigate what happened on that rig and hold responsible parties accountable, our focus now is on a fully coordinated, relentless response effort to stop the leak and prevent more damage to the Gulf.”
Acknowledging that persons in the Gulf were understandably frustrated and frightened given that they had undergone so much hardship, Obama said that his government will do whatever was required to mitigate the worse effects of the oil spill.
“Every American affected by this spill should know this: Your government will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to stop this crisis.”
