CGF 2010 Volume: 2 Issue: 3 (July)

Never before has the U.S. seen an oil spill of this magnitude. Some experts have said the spread is larger than the size of Puerto Rico. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that as much as 19,000 barrels a day could have been flooding into the Gulf of Mexico since the oil rig collapse. And why exactly did it collapse? The answer to this question—will we ever know for sure?—could have profound significance for future offshore drilling standards and regulations.

“This is a siege across the entire gulf,” remarked Admiral Thad Allen, the national incident commander and former commandant. “This spill is holding everybody hostage, not only economically but physically. And it has to be attacked on all fronts.”

At the time of this writing, a cap placed over the ruptured well was capturing about 10,000 barrels a day. Meanwhile, the gulf shoreline extending from central Louisiana to Port St. Joe in the Florida Panhandle continues to face serious threats. Fish and birds are smothered in oil. Tarballs are washing up on beaches. Local communities are in disarray. Regional tourism has dwindled significantly.

“[BP’s] got moral and legal obligations here in the Gulf for the damage that has been done,” said President Obama. “They say they want to make it right—that’s part of their advertising campaign. Well, we want them to make it right.”

Yet this seems to imply that the damage can be reversed. There is a difference between mitigating impacts—deploying boom and dispersant, skimming, conducting controlled burns, etc.—and eliminating them. The Coast Guard has been working very hard to execute its mission on the environmental front. Relief well drilling is proceeding, but isn’t likely to be completed until August. Admiral Allen is to be commended for his candor, leadership and willingness to see the job through.

“[He] has nearly four decades of experience responding to such disasters,” noted Obama. “And if he orders BP to do something to respond to this disaster, they’re legally bound to do it.”

What else should they be bound to? 

Mark Fitzgerald, Editor U.S. Coast Guard Forum This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it