DOCSLIB.ORG

Deepwater Horizon: Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures, and Natural Resource Impacts

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Deepwater Horizon: Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures, and Natural Resource Impacts DEEPWATER HORIZON: OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE MEASURES, AND NATURAL RESOURCE IMPACTS (111–112) HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION May 19, 2010 Printed for the use of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ( VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6011 Sfmt 6011 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN DEEPWATER HORIZON: OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE MEASURES, AND NATURAL RESOURCE IMPACTS VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6019 Sfmt 6019 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN DEEPWATER HORIZON: OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE MEASURES, AND NATURAL RESOURCE IMPACTS (111–112) HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION May 19, 2010 Printed for the use of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 56–561 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE JAMES L. OBERSTAR, Minnesota, Chairman NICK J. RAHALL, II, West Virginia, Vice JOHN L. MICA, Florida Chair DON YOUNG, Alaska PETER A. DEFAZIO, Oregon THOMAS E. PETRI, Wisconsin JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois HOWARD COBLE, North Carolina ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee Columbia VERNON J. EHLERS, Michigan JERROLD NADLER, New York FRANK A. LOBIONDO, New Jersey CORRINE BROWN, Florida JERRY MORAN, Kansas BOB FILNER, California GARY G. MILLER, California EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas HENRY E. BROWN, JR., South Carolina GENE TAYLOR, Mississippi TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON, Illinois ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland TODD RUSSELL PLATTS, Pennsylvania LEONARD L. BOSWELL, Iowa SAM GRAVES, Missouri TIM HOLDEN, Pennsylvania BILL SHUSTER, Pennsylvania BRIAN BAIRD, Washington JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas RICK LARSEN, Washington SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia MICHAEL E. CAPUANO, Massachusetts JIM GERLACH, Pennsylvania TIMOTHY H. BISHOP, New York MARIO DIAZ-BALART, Florida MICHAEL H. MICHAUD, Maine CHARLES W. DENT, Pennsylvania RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri CONNIE MACK, Florida GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California LYNN A WESTMORELAND, Georgia DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan JASON ALTMIRE, Pennsylvania MARY FALLIN, Oklahoma TIMOTHY J. WALZ, Minnesota VERN BUCHANAN, Florida HEATH SHULER, North Carolina BRETT GUTHRIE, Kentucky MICHAEL A. ARCURI, New York ANH ‘‘JOSEPH’’ CAO, Louisiana HARRY E. MITCHELL, Arizona AARON SCHOCK, Illinois CHRISTOPHER P. CARNEY, Pennsylvania PETE OLSON, Texas JOHN J. HALL, New York VACANCY STEVE KAGEN, Wisconsin STEVE COHEN, Tennessee LAURA A. RICHARDSON, California ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas PHIL HARE, Illinois JOHN A. BOCCIERI, Ohio MARK H. SCHAUER, Michigan BETSY MARKEY, Colorado MICHAEL E. MCMAHON, New York THOMAS S. P. PERRIELLO, Virginia DINA TITUS, Nevada HARRY TEAGUE, New Mexico JOHN GARAMENDI, California HANK JOHNSON, Georgia (II) VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN CONTENTS Page Summary of Subject Matter .................................................................................... v TESTIMONY Birnbaum, S. Elizabeth, Director, Minerals Management Service ...................... 74 Earle, Sylvia, Ph.D., Explorer-In-Residence, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC ................................................................................................... 74 Gerica, Pete, Gerica Seafood, New Orleans, Louisiana ........................................ 107 Jackson, Lisa P., Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency .................. 74 Kinner, Nancy E., Ph.D., Codirector, Coastal Response Research Center, Uni- versity of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire ..................................... 107 Lubchenco, Jane, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and NOAA Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion ........................................................................................................................ 74 McKay, Lamar, President, BP PLC ....................................................................... 12 Mitchelmore, Carys L., Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Solo- mons, Maryland .................................................................................................... 107 Newman, Steven, President and Chief Executive Officer, Transocean Ltd. ....... 12 Salerno, RADM Brian, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Stewardship, U.S. Coast Guard, accompanied by RADM Peter V. Neffenger, Deputy National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Hori- zon Oil Spill Response, U.S. Coast Guard ......................................................... 74 Schweiger, Larry, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Wildlife Federation, Reston, Virginia ............................................................................... 107 PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Capito, Hon. Shelley Moore, of West Virginia ....................................................... 126 Carnahan, Hon. Russ, of Missouri ......................................................................... 127 Cohen, Hon. Steve, of Tennessee ............................................................................ 128 Johnson, Hon. Eddie Bernice, of Texas .................................................................. 129 Larsen, Hon. Rick, of Washington .......................................................................... 142 Mitchell, Hon. Harry E., of Arizona ....................................................................... 146 Rahall, Hon. Nick J., III, of West Virginia ............................................................ 147 PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY WITNESSES Birnbaum, S. Elizabeth ........................................................................................... 155 Earle, Sylvia, Ph.D. ................................................................................................. 174 Gerica, Pete .............................................................................................................. 186 Jackson, Lisa P. ....................................................................................................... 187 Kinner, Nancy E., Ph.D. .......................................................................................... 199 Lubchenco, Jane ....................................................................................................... 215 McKay, Lamar ......................................................................................................... 229 Mitchelmore, Carys L. ............................................................................................. 237 Newman, Steven ...................................................................................................... 257 Salerno, RADM Brian and RADM Peter V. Neffenger ......................................... 267 Schweiger, Larry ...................................................................................................... 275 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD Jackson, Lisa P., Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, response to request for information from the Committee ................................................ 195 Lubchenco, Jane, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and NOAA Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion, response to request for information from the Committee ........................ 224 (III) VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN IV Page Napolitano, Grace F., a Representative in Congress from the State of Cali- fornia, letter from Professor Robert Bea of the University of California at Berkeley ............................................................................................................ 150 ADDITIONS TO THE RECORD International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), Dr. Peter M. Swift, Managing Director, written testimony .............................. 291 U.S. Travel Association, written testimony ........................................................... 296 VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN v VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN Insert offset folio 1 here 56561.001 vi VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN Insert offset folio 2 here 56561.002 vii VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN Insert offset folio 3 here 56561.003 viii VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 P:\DOCS\56561.TXT JEAN Insert offset folio 4 here 56561.004 ix VerDate Aug 31 2005 13:20 Apr 08, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ocean Science
    BOEMRE Special Edition ThE Deepwater HOrizOn Response December 2010 OCEAN The Science & Technology Journal of The Bureau of ocean energy ManageMenT, SCIENCE regulaTion anD enforceMenT A Unity of Effort at the Unified Area Command Center Loop Current Studies and the Oil-Spill Response Lophelia II Expedition: Keeping Watch over Deepwater Communities Lophelia II Expedition: Diving on GulfOil Studying Cetaceans in the Gulf Listening to the People of the Gulf Coast: Field Surveys Put Boots on the Ground Mapping the Spill with Cooperatively Funded Technology Groovy Drum Skimmer Goes to Work in the Gulf BOEMRE DECEMBER 2010 DECEMBER 2010 Special Edition Special Edition OCEAN THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL OF THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, BOEMRE OCEAN SCIENCE is published SCIENCE REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT quarterly by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement to communicate recent ocean science and technological information and issues of interest related to offshore energy recovery Director’s Note ...........................................................................................3 and ocean stewardship. About This Issue ........................................................................................3 A Unity of Effort at the Unified Area Command Center ......................4 Loop Current Studies and the Oil-Spill Response ...............................5 Lophelia II Expedition: Keeping Watch over Deepwater Communities ....................................6 Please address all questions, comments,
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Risk Explored Through Oil Spills and Hydraulic Fracturing: Attempting Environmental Protection Through Policy Samantha M
    Union College Union | Digital Works Honors Theses Student Work 6-2012 Environmental Risk Explored Through Oil Spills and Hydraulic Fracturing: Attempting Environmental Protection through Policy Samantha M. Guidon Union College - Schenectady, NY Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, and the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Guidon, Samantha M., "Environmental Risk Explored Through Oil Spills and Hydraulic Fracturing: Attempting Environmental Protection through Policy" (2012). Honors Theses. 830. https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/830 This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at Union | Digital Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of Union | Digital Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Guidon 1 Environmental Risk Explored Through Oil Spills and Hydraulic Fracturing: Attempting Environmental Protection through Policy By Samantha Guidon Advisor: Janet P. Grigsby Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an undergraduate degree from the Department of Environmental Policy UNION COLLEGE March 2012 Guidon 2 Abstract: History demonstrates the dangers of ignoring the environmental risks that correspond to resource extraction, especially in precarious locations. This project analyzed three cases: (1) the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, (2) the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and (3) the current question of hydraulic fracturing in New York’s Marcellus Shale. The case studies assessed whether policies for protecting the environment from the risks of human activity have improved and whether such policies can be made both economically efficient and environmentally less risky.
    [Show full text]
  • Fails to Stop Gulf Oil Leak 30 May 2010, by Allen Johnson
    'Top kill' fails to stop Gulf oil leak 30 May 2010, by Allen Johnson Engineers had spent days pumping some 30,000 barrels of heavy drilling fluid into the leaking well head on the ocean floor in a high-pressure bid to smother the gushing crude and ultimately seal the well with cement. But the effort failed, and when asked specifically why, Suttles had no direct answer. "We don't know that for certain," he said. The announcement marks the latest failure for BP, which despite a series of high-tech operations over the past month has appeared powerless to bring the disaster to heel since an explosion on the BP- leased Deepwater Horizon oil rig April 20 which Oil mixes with water in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Venice, Louisiana, May 29. BP's "top kill" operation to killed 11 workers. The rig sank two days later. plug the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico has failed in a stunning setback to efforts to stem the worst oil spill in The British energy giant had stressed that "top kill" US history. was the best chance at stopping the leak other than drilling an entirely new relief well, a process that has already begun but is expected to take another two months. BP's "top kill" operation to plug the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico has failed in a stunning setback "Obviously, we're very disappointed in today's to efforts to stem the worst oil spill in US history. announcement and I know all of you are anxious to see this well secured," US Coast Guard Rear BP and federal authorities said Saturday they are Admiral Mary Landry told the briefing.
    [Show full text]
  • Oilgram News/OPR Extra a Special Edition from the Editors of Platts May 10, 2010
    ] Oilgram News/OPR Extra A special edition from the editors of Platts May 10, 2010 As it has during other crises affecting oil and other energy markets, such as hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ivan, Platts is produc- ing this special summary of events surrounding the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This special joint edi- tion of Platts Oilgram News and OPR Extra will be published as frequently as Platts believes necessary to give its readers a quick summary of developments surrounding the leak at the wellhead, the growing footprint of the spill, and the impact these occurrences are having on markets and on US federal energy policy. BP plans its next moves Undaunted by failure of its large 100-ton going from one extreme to the other,” said acknowledged the difficulties of undersea containment dome, BP came out swinging on Wells, comparing the size of the two domes. drilling and said a second rig is en route to multiple fronts May 10 with plans for a mini- The smaller top hat will be connected to the begin drilling another relief well. Transocean, dome dubbed a “top hat” and use of “junk drillship prior to deployment and will use a which was involved in operating the Deepwa- shots” in its continuing battle to stem the methanol pumping system to adjust the ter Horizon, is operating both relief-well rigs. 5,000 b/d crude oil from its runaway Macon- water temperature around its shell. While do exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico. BP BP had expected the larger dome to divert BP increased its estimate of daily costs for CEO Tony Hayward, following failure of the as much as 85% of the Macondo crude flow, the recovery operation to $10 million, up from large containment dome over the weekend, Wells declined to speculate on the projected a previous projection of $6 million, and said a similar attempt will take place with efficiency of the top hat.
    [Show full text]
  • Deepwater Horizon” in The
    EDWARD R. ZIEGLER, P.E. C.S.P. Professional Engineer Certified Safety Professional OSHA 500 Instructor IN RE: OIL SPILL BY THE OIL RIG “DEEPWATER HORIZON” IN THE GULF OF MEXICO ON APRIL 20, 2010 PHASE II REPORT – SOURCE CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA MDL NO. 2179 SECTION: J SEAL Professional Engineer F – 8066 TX _________________________________ EDWARD R. ZIEGLER, P.E., C.S.P. MAY 1, 2013 Copyright 2013 By Edward R. Ziegler, P.E., All Rights Reserved 1964 West Gray, Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77019 Tel: 713-850-0960 Fax: 713-850-1235 CONFIDENTIAL TREX-011579R.1 May 1, 2013 Page 2 of 48 EACH EVENT AND FACT SITUATION MUST BE EXAMINED SEPARATELY TO FORM OPINIONS AS TO THE SPECIFIC EVENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS SURROUNDING AN INCIDENT. EXCEPT FOR WHERE INDUSTRY PRACTICES AND STANDARDS ARE SET FORTH, THE ANALYSIS AND OPINIONS WRITTEN HERE DO NOT NECESSARILY APPLY TO ANY OTHER OR DIFFERENT FACTS OR EVENT. CONFIDENTIAL TREX-011579R.2 May 1, 2013 Page 3 of 48 TABLE OF CONTENTS I OPINIONS . 5 II INTRODUCTION . 6 III MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE . 7 IV METHODOLOGY . 10 V THE INCIDENT - MACONDO WELL BLOWOUT . 11 VI BASIS FOR OPINIONS . 15 A. HAZARD AND RISK ANALYSIS NECESSARY FOR SOURCE CONTROL . 15 B. PRE-PLANNING AVOIDS “ANALYSIS PARALYSIS” OR “UNRESPON- SIVENESS” ONCE THE SOURCE CONTROL EVENT EXISTS . 22 C. SOURCE CONTROL PROCEDURES – WHAT BP DID . 28 D. SOURCE CONTROL PROCEDURES - WHAT BP SHOULD HAVE DONE . 37 E. BP IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOURCE CONTROL AT THE WELL OPERATED BY BP .
    [Show full text]
  • IN the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT for the EASTERN DISTRICT of LOUISIANA in Re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon
    Case 2:10-md-02179-CJB-DPC Document 14021 Filed 01/15/15 Page 1 of 44 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater * Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico, * MDL 2179 on April 20, 2010, * * * SECTION J This Document Applies To: * * No. 10-2771, In re: The Complaint and Petition * JUDGE BARBIER of Triton Asset Leasing GmbH, et al. * * and * MAG. JUDGE SHUSHAN * No. 10-4536, United States of America v. BP * Exploration & Production, Inc., et al. * ——————————————————————————————————————— FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW PHASE TWO TRIAL Case 2:10-md-02179-CJB-DPC Document 14021 Filed 01/15/15 Page 2 of 44 Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a), the Court enters these Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law relative to the Phase Two trial. If any finding is in truth a conclusion of law or any conclusion stated is in truth a finding of fact, it shall be deemed so, labels notwithstanding. CONTENTS I. Introduction and Procedural History ................................................................................. 3 II. Source Control Segment ....................................................................................................... 5 A. Parties to the Source Control Segment ............................................................................. 5 B. Stipulated Facts; Timeline of Source Control Events ...................................................... 6 i. Terms and Definitions.....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: a State-Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
    Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Dissertations Graduate College 8-2012 Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State-Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Elizabeth A. Bradshaw Western Michigan University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations Part of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, and the Politics and Social Change Commons Recommended Citation Bradshaw, Elizabeth A., "Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State-Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill" (2012). Dissertations. 53. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/53 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DEEPWATER, DEEP TIES, DEEP TROUBLE: A STATE-CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME ANALYSIS OF THE 2010 GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL by Elizabeth A. Bradshaw A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology Advisor: Ronald C. Kramer, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 2012 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN Date June 29, 2012 WE HEREBY APPROVE THE DISSERTATION SUBMITTED BY Elizabeth A. Bradshaw ENTITLED Deepwater, Deep Ties, Deep Trouble: A State-Corporate Environmental Crime Analysis of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill AS PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Doctor of Philosophy Sociology /^^y<^^<^ (Department) Ronald C^ramer, Ph.D Dissertatijzfh Beview Committer Sociology (Program) Gregory J.
    [Show full text]
  • National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
    National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling THE AMOUNT AND FATE OF THE OIL ---Draft--- Staff Working Paper No. 3 Staff Working Papers are written by the staff of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling for the use of members of the Commission. They are preliminary, subject to change, and do not necessarily reflect the views either of the Commission as a whole or of any of its members. In addition, they may be based in part on confidential interviews with government and non-government personnel. The federal government‟s estimates of the amount of oil flowing into and later remaining in the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the Macondo well explosion were the source of significant controversy, which undermined public confidence in the federal government‟s response to the spill. By initially underestimating the amount of oil flow and then, at the end of the summer, appearing to underestimate the amount of oil remaining in the Gulf, the federal government created the impression that it was either not fully competent to handle the spill or not fully candid with the American people about the scope of the problem. Federal government responders may be correct in stating that low flow-rate estimates did not negatively affect their operations.1 Even if responders are correct, however, loss of the public‟s trust during a disaster is not an incidental public relations problem. The absence of trust fuels public fears, and those fears in turn can cause major harm, whether because the public loses confidence in the federal government‟s assurances that beaches or seafood are safe, or because the government‟s lack of credibility makes it harder to build relationships with state and local officials, as well as community leaders, that are necessary for effective response actions.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Testimony
    Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Tuesday, May 11, 20101 Written Testimony Lamar McKay Chairman & President, BP America Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski, members of the committee, I am Lamar McKay, Chairman and President of BP America. We have all experienced a tragic series of events. I want to be clear from the outset that we will not rest until the well is under control. As a responsible party under the Oil Pollution Act, we will carry out our responsibilities to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of this incident. We – and, indeed, the entire energy sector as a whole - are determined to understand what happened, why it happened, take the learnings from this incident, and make the changes necessary to make our company and our industry stronger and safer. We understand that the world is watching and that we and our industry colleagues will be judged by how we respond to these events. Three weeks ago tonight, eleven people were lost in an explosion and fire aboard the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and seventeen others were injured. My deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends who have suffered such a terrible loss and to those in Gulf Coast communities whose lives and livelihoods are being impacted. This was a horrendous accident. We are all devastated by this. It has profoundly touched our employees, their families, our partners, customers, those in the surrounding areas and those in government with whom we are working. There has been tremendous shock that such an accident could have happened, and great sorrow for the lives lost and the injuries sustained.
    [Show full text]
  • Deepwater Horizon Deepwater Horizon
    CAPT Erich M. Telfer, USCG Unlimited Impossibilities “The role of intelligence in support of natural disaster and other non-military activities is an under-researched area of inquiry. Erich Telfer’s research into the role of intelligence during the response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and sinking and the subsequent loss of control of the Macondo Well provides insight into the art of the possible and the need for doctrine. It is an important contribution to the matura- tion of disaster preparedness and response planning in this country.” Admiral Thad W. Allen, USCG (Ret.) Unlimited Impossibilities: Telfer Intelligence Support to the Deepwater Horizon Response NI-Press NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE UNIVERSITY Unlimited Impossibilities: Intelligence Support to the Deepwater Horizon Response by CAPT Erich M. Telfer, USCG National Intelligence University Washington, DC January 2014 UNLIMITED IMPOSSIBILITIES In Unlimited Impossibilities: Intelligence Support to the Deepwater Horizon Response, CAPT Erich M. Telfer of the U. S. Coast Guard examines the Intelligence Com- munity and Coast Guard response to the 2010 BP oil ex- plosion on Deepwater Horizon, which spilled tons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Telfer points out problems that hampered the response and suggests approaches for better communication and coordination in future responses. The goal of the NI Press is to publish high quality, valuable, and timely books on topics of concern to the Intelligence Community and, more broadly, the U.S. government. Books published by the NI Press undergo peer review by senior officials in the U.S. government and outside experts. This publication has been approved for unrestricted distribution by the Office of Security Review, Department of Defense.
    [Show full text]
  • Deepwater Horizon
    Dispersant Monitoring an4 Assessment Directive I. Plume Monitoring and Assessment Plan fpr Subsurface Dispersant Application BP shall implement the approved Dispersed Plyme Characterization Plan for Subsurface Dispersant Application. Part I of the plan is a 1'Proof of.Concept" to determine if subsurface dispersant operation is chemically qispersing the oil plume. Once the "Proof of Concept" test is complete, the results will be, reviewed by the RR T for a decision to proceed or not proceed with Part 2 of the plan. , Part 2 of the plan involves robust sampling to detect and delineate the dispersed ~lume Part 3, entitled nsubsurface Injection of Dispersant", outlines the operationjll procedures. Additional guidance will be provided by the RRT coordination group onfspecific implementation of this directive and that guidance will be considered an adden4um to this directive. At least 24 hours prior to the testing, use andlot application of any subsurface dispersants, BP shalt provide a Dispersant Application Pia~ that identifies the dispersants to be used, describes the methods and equipment. used to i~ject the dispersant. plume model to assure representative sampling, proposed method ofv)sual observation, process for determining the effectiveness of subsurface injection, the s~ific injection rate (i.e., gallons/minute), the total amount to be used for the duration of(he test, the total length of time that dispersant is injected, and the plan for samplin$ and monitoring, as approved by the Unified Cofmand Environmental Unit. Dispersants must be on the approved product schedule an,d suitable for this use. All data shall be provided to the United States ~oast Guard (USCG) Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and the Environmental Protectio~iAgency (EPA) Regional Response Team (RRT) representative within 24 hours of the in ormation being received.
    [Show full text]
  • Deepwater Horizon Response – Crisis Comms and IT Role
    Deepwater Horizon Response – Crisis Comms and IT Role Captain Marcus Woodring Sector Houston-Galveston Prelude April 20th, 2010 – The Transocean Rig, Deepwater Horizon, suffered a major marine casualty and fire. The rig sank a few days later, severing the riser connection, releasing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. There were 11 casualties as a result of the fire/explosion. BP took on the role of the “responsible party” for the oil spill response efforts. The USCG and MMS (BOE-MRE) are co-chairing an ongoing investigation into the major marine casualty. Prelude Prelude Prelude Prelude Question #1 What would you name the incident and why?? A. The Transocean Incident B. The Deepwater Horizon Disaster C. The BP Oil Spill D. The Macando 252 BOP Failure H1N1 – Previous names... CITGO Flash Flood Event EXXON VALDEZ 9/11 Other Commands • The first Incident Command Post (ICP) was established in Houma, as the initial event occurred within the Morgan City COTP Zone. This ICP eventually became responsible for the entire State of Louisiana. • Shortly afterwards, an ICP was stood-up in Mobile, to cover the States of Mississippi, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida. • ICP Florida was established for the State (other than the panhandle). Other Commands • Because of the need to “broker” the resources available between multiple ICPs, i.e. boom and skimmers, a Unified Area Command (UAC) was established in Robert, and eventually relocated to NOLA. • After the declaration of this event as a “Spill of National Significance” (SONS), a National Incident Command (NIC) was also established. • At BP Headquarters in Westlake, the efforts to control the source was named ICP Houston.
    [Show full text]