Time for Action Six Years After Deepwater Horizon Julie Dermansky “One of the lessons we’ve learned from this spill is that we need better regulations, better safety standards, and better enforcement when it comes to offshore drilling.” President Barack Obama June 15, 2010

Authors Acknowledgments Ingrid Biedron, Ph.D. The authors are grateful for the reviews, comments and and Suzannah Evans direction provided by Dustin Cranor, Claire Douglass, Michael April 2016 LeVine, Lara Levison, Kathryn Matthews, Ph.D., Jacqueline U.S. Coast Guard Savitz, Lora Snyder, Oona Watkins and Emory Wellman.

1 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon Executive Summary

he Deepwater Horizon oil spill 2016, that show the damage the 2010 oil • Harmful oil and/or oil dispersant Tdevastated the Gulf of Mexico’s spill caused in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists chemicals were found in about 80 marine life, communities and economy. are still working to understand the scale of percent of pelican eggs that were laid in Since the 2010 disaster, federal agencies devastation to wildlife, fisheries and human Minnesota, more than 1,000 miles from have done little to improve the safety of health. These catastrophic outcomes could the Gulf, where most of these birds offshore drilling using existing authorities happen in any region of the United States spend winters.3 and Congress has done virtually nothing where oil and gas activities are proceeding, • Oil exposure caused heart failure in to reduce the risk of another spill in our especially as those activities are moving juvenile bluefin and yellowfin tunas,4 waters or on our beaches. Although into deeper and more dangerous areas. reduced swimming ability in juvenile investigations of the disaster resulted in mahi-mahi fish5 and caused gill tissue detailed recommendations to strengthen Key findings include the disaster’s impact damage in killifish.6 the laws governing offshore drilling, no on the marine ecosystem: new laws have been passed. • Mortality rates for common bottlenose • The oil plume caused bleaching and tissue dolphins living in Barataria Bay, loss in deep-water coral reefs over an area To make better decisions about offshore Louisiana were 8 percent higher and three times larger than Manhattan.7 energy, we must continue to learn from their reproductive success was 63 • Endangered sea turtles that had the ongoing impacts of the Deepwater percent lower compared to other migrated to the Gulf from Mexico, Horizon oil spill six years after the disaster. dolphin populations.1 South America and West Africa died This report highlights scientific studies, • An estimated 600,000 to 800,000 birds in the spill, demonstrating the global focusing on those released in 2015 and died as a result of the spill.2 scale of impacts.8 Julie Dermansky

Surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. May, 2010. oceana.org 2 Julie Dermansky

Oiled marsh in Barataria Bay, Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. September, 2010.

The oil spill also had a dramatic effect • 10 million user-days of beach, fishing • The United States should transition on human health: and boating activity were lost.14 away from offshore oil drilling and • The 50,000 people involved in spill instead invest in cleaner, safer cleanup were exposed to chemicals technologies like offshore wind and that severely damage lung tissue.9 Recommendations: other renewable energy sources. • President Obama should not allow • Cleanup workers and their spouses • Scientists, decision makers, federal additional leasing, exploration or reported increased depression and and state governments, and the public development in frontier areas such as domestic disputes.10 should continue to monitor and learn the Atlantic, Arctic and ultra-deepwater. from the effects of the Deepwater • Even Gulf residents indirectly affected • President Obama should not allow Horizon spill so that we can restore by the spill suffered from increased offshore drilling in new areas or areas losses and prevent future disasters. anxiety and depression.11 where vulnerable ecosystems will be • It can take a decade or more for oil spill at risk. Six years later, the lesson from the Gulf of victims to recover from the physical and • The federal government should fully Mexico oil spill is clear: Offshore drilling psychological effects of an oil disaster.12 implement the well control rule and is not safe for the environment, the finalize Arctic-specific regulations. economy or human health. We therefore The economic losses from the spill should not expand oil and gas activities • President Obama should not allow were enormous: in U.S. waters. Instead, we should rapidly seismic airgun blasting, a technique used • The impact of the oil spill on fisheries develop clean energy options, including to locate oil and gas deposits, where could total $8.7 billion by 2020, offshore wind power. marine life can be harmed. including the loss of 22,000 jobs.13

3 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon Introduction

n April 20, 2010, an explosion on The Gulf spill had enormously negative Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Othe Deepwater Horizon offshore impacts on the region, including on the Leasing Program. As the Deepwater drilling rig killed 11 crew members and offshore and coastal environments and the Horizon disaster showed, even the “best” caused the worst oil spill in American animals that live there. It also affected the technology can fail – putting ecosystems, history. The oil spill continued for 87 economy, impacting tourism and the fishing the economy and human health at risk. days as engineers tried and failed to stop industry. Drawing on the latest scientific Oceana strongly recommends that it.15 By the time the well was sealed, studies, this report summarizes what we oil and gas exploration and extraction more than 200 million gallons of oil have learned about the effects of the oil spill activities not be expanded within had flooded into the Gulf of Mexico.16 six years later and highlights the most recent U.S. waters. Instead, the U.S. should By comparison, the 1989 Exxon Valdez research published in 2015 and 2016. transition to renewable energy sources spilled almost 11 million gallons of oil like offshore wind power. As this report into Alaska’s Prince William Sound, Studying the effects of oil spills on marine highlights, the negative effects of the about one-twentieth the amount life is more important than ever, as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continue to of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.17 U.S. government finalizes the 2017-2022 play out, even six years later. Julie Dermansky

Memorial on Grand Isle, Louisiana for crew members killed in the Deepwater Horizon disaster. April, 2015.

oceana.org 4 Endangered Species Act.22 Forty additional and nearly 1,000 sea otter deaths.26 The Gulf of Mexico marine species in the Gulf area that are More than 25 years later, we are still unprotected by federal laws are listed as experiencing the effects of the Exxon he Gulf of Mexico is one of the most threatened on the International Union Valdez spill. Despite a major cleanup Tvibrant and important ecosystems for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.23 effort, oil can still be found underneath and economic engines in the U.S. Its The economic footprint of the Gulf of some Alaskan beaches.27 1,631 miles of coastline18 cross five states Mexico is enormous. More than 22 million and include estuaries, coral reefs, seagrass people live in the Gulf’s coastal counties The disaster that claimed the title for beds, mangrove swamps, barrier islands and parishes, many of them working in the world’s worst spill prior to the and the 5 million acres of coastal wetlands commercial seafood, shipping, tourism, Deepwater Horizon blowout, the Ixtoc that make up the Mississippi River Delta and oil and gas production.24 The Gulf’s 1 oil spill, took place in 1979 in the ecosystem. This area includes almost 10 ports, which are among the 15 largest southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, 40 percent of the wetlands found in the ports in the U.S., account for almost $1 when an oil rig owned by the Mexican lower 48 states.19 These habitats play trillion in trade annually.25 government suffered a similar failure. a vital role in the food chain, providing Oil flowed from the well for nearly a spawning areas and breeding grounds The Deepwater Horizon year, resulting in 140 million gallons for wildlife, including commercial and of oil spilled into the Gulf.28 Still, that recreational species that are important Disaster in Context disaster was ultimately dwarfed by to the tourism and fishing industries. the Deepwater Horizon spill. Since then, A spawning ground is “a place where he Deepwater Horizon blowout additional spills have been reminders animals go to lay eggs”20 and is therefore Tproduced the largest oil spill in U.S. of the continued threat of extracting important to species survival. history, but it is far from the only oil oil resources from marine ecosystems. disaster to strike the country. The famous Just last year, on May 19, 2015, 21,000 The region is home to more than 15,000 Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 released nearly gallons of crude oil spilled into the species of animals,21 including 15 11 million gallons of oil near the Alaskan Pacific Ocean at Refugio State Beach marine species protected under the coastline, resulting in 35,000 bird deaths near Santa Barbara, California.29 NOAA

Vessel skimming oil in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. April, 2010.

5 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon The Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster

il is harmful to many plants and Oanimals and has both immediate Impacts on Marine Life The number of whale and dolphin and long-term effects on ecosystems and deaths in the Gulf following the spill economies. In addition, the subsequent Marine Mammals is staggering. In fact, the number clean-up attempts can backfire for The Deepwater Horizon oil spill drastically of dolphin and whale strandings was wildlife. In this case, the chemical affected marine mammals in the Gulf of so high that the federal government dispersant sprayed on the water to break Mexico, resulting in enormous numbers of dubbed it an “unusual mortality event.” It down the oil after the spill was harmful, animals found onshore that were dead or is impossible to know exactly how many and in some cases, even deadly to marine incapacitated. These events are referred marine mammals were killed as a result of life.30 The long-term effects of an oil spill, to as “strandings.” The Gulf of Mexico is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, since only however, are often invisible to the naked home to 29 species of marine mammals about 2 percent of all marine mammal eye and can take years to be identified, like dolphins, whales and manatees,32 carcasses are usually recovered.36 This much less fully understood. Scientists are including four whale species and one means that the death toll for marine still cataloging the extent of the damage manatee species that are protected under mammals following an oil spill could be caused by the 2010 spill. the Endangered Species Act.33 Because 50 times higher than what we observe marine mammals must surface to breathe, with our own eyes, with many more whales This report summarizes what scientists they are at risk of direct contact with oil. and dolphins dying at sea. Due to a lack and economists have learned since the The heavy metals in oil can damage DNA as of long-term data sets, it is difficult to 2010 spill, highlighting the most recent they accumulate in wildlife, causing long- translate the number of marine mammal studies from 2015 and 2016. Below, we term and even intergenerational effects.34 carcasses into effects on specific marine review the effects of the oil spill on marine Large predators like whales and dolphins mammal populations.37 mammals, birds, sea turtles, fish, corals, are especially vulnerable to accumulating invertebrates and human health.31 chemicals in their tissue through Scientists are beginning to understand respiration, ingestion or direct contact the magnitude of the disaster’s effects with contaminated water or sediment, a on whales and dolphins. By recording process known as bioaccumulation.35 whale calls, researchers learned that Gulf Restoration Network

Dolphin stranded on Fourchon Beach, Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. May, 2011. oceana.org 6 bird mortalities due to the spill was even worse, possibly 10 times higher.47 More than 1 million migratory shorebirds, including 28 different species, were potentially exposed to oil from the spill.48 In addition, oil contamination could affect future generations of birds.49 Indeed, egg exposure to oil is known to cause mortality and birth defects in baby birds.50 The Gulf of Mexico is an important breeding ground, and 56 percent of its bird and duck species breed or nest during the months the oil spill was at its worst (April to June).51 Two years after the spill, scientists found hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 90 percent of pelican eggs tested in Minnesota, the summer grounds for many birds that winter in the Gulf of Mexico.52 The chemical dispersant used to degrade oil after the spill – also toxic to young birds – was found in 80 percent of the eggs.53 Julie Dermansky

The marshes in the Gulf of Mexico are important feeding and nesting habitat for shearwaters, northern gannets, frigates, 54 Oiled brown pelican in Barataria Bay, Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010. royal terns and gulls. Additionally, the barrier islands off of the southeastern some endangered sperm whales left the than average.42 Many of these dolphins coast of Louisiana are important nesting area nearest the spill not long after the also had lower body weights or extensive habitats for birds, including the brown event.38 Some marine mammals that did not tooth loss. More than half of the Barataria pelican.55 Two months after the disaster, abandon the area paid an enormous price. Bay dolphins studied were sick enough International Bird Rescue had cleaned 600 In addition to the more than 1,000 marine that scientists gave them a guarded-to- oiled birds in its facility in Louisiana.56 mammals that were found stranded, an grave prognosis.43 Scientists also found unusual number of premature and stillborn dead dolphins with adrenal gland and lung Sea Turtles 39 44 dolphins were observed. Several years lesions caused by exposure to oil. These Endangered sea turtle deaths increased after the spill, pregnant bottlenose dolphins findings indicate that the oil from the and nesting beaches were damaged by only gave birth to healthy calves 20 percent Deepwater Horizon spill has contributed the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. About 75 of the time, compared to 83 percent prior to increased rates of Bottlenose dolphin percent of the dead sea turtles found to the oil spill, and also experienced an deaths in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. following the spill were Kemp’s ridley increased mortality rate of 8 percent, turtles, the smallest and most endangered 40 compared to other dolphin populations. Birds sea turtle species worldwide.57,58 Kemp’s This research demonstrates high mortality Oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill led ridley turtles’ most important nesting and low reproductive success for dolphins to enormous levels of bird mortality and beaches are in Texas and Mexico. Scientists 41 in the heavily oiled habitat. habitat devastation. Scientists estimate estimate that up to 65,000 Kemp’s ridley that 600,000 to 800,000 birds died as sea turtles died in 2010, more than four Bottlenose dolphins living in Barataria 59 a result of the Deepwater Horizon spill.45 times as many as in the previous year. Bay, Louisiana, which was heavily oiled One-third of the northern Gulf’s entire Additionally, Kemp’s ridley nests on their during the spill, had moderate-to-severe coastal population of laughing gulls died.46 primary nesting beaches in Mexico dropped lung disease at rates five times higher Some scientists believe the number of by 35 percent in the year of the oil spill, from 19,163 in 2009 to 12,377 in 2010.60

7 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon open water species like king and Spanish mackerel. Shellfish in the area affected by the spill included oysters, scallops, and shrimp and crab species.64

The Gulf of Mexico is also a critical spawning ground for migratory species such as the valuable and overfished Atlantic bluefin tuna. After theExxon Valdez spill, scientists learned that lingering exposure to oil can result in heart failure and other cardiovascular problems 65

Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times in fish embryos. Exposure to oil can also cause gill tissue damage.66 Even brief exposure to oil can reduce the swimming ability of juvenile fish weeks later.67 After the Deepwater Horizon disaster, scientists demonstrated the cardiovascular effects of oil on bluefin and yellowfin tuna embryos.68 The consistency of serious negative effects Oiled Kemp’s ridley turtle found near the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site. June, 2010. in embryonic heart development in tuna species indicates that many other large Of the world’s seven sea turtle species,61 blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, fish species spawning at the same time five species are found in the Gulf of longbill spearfish and sailfish. Additional in the oiled areas also faced high rates of Mexico and are threatened or endangered, fish species found in oiled areas included juvenile mortality, including swordfish and including the Kemp’s ridley, green, red snapper, grouper, gray triggerfish, billfish.69 These impacts could decrease hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead red drum, vermillion snapper, greater health and availability of commercially species. The Gulf of Mexico waters include amberjack, black drum, cobia and dolphin and recreationally important fish species some of the sea turtles’ most important (mahi-mahi), as well as coastal migratory affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill. habitat and foraging areas.62 In addition, scientists believe that the affected sea turtles include individuals from populations based in Costa Rica, Mexico, northern South America and even West Africa, suggesting that the effects of the spill on sea turtle populations extend far beyond the northern Gulf of Mexico.63

Fish Many fish, including sharks, tuna and shellfish, were exposed to oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill. Oil can cause damage to fish heart function and swimming ability, putting commercially and recreationally important fish species at risk. The Gulf of Mexico includes many

shark species, such as the scalloped Julie Dermansky hammerhead, shortfin mako, silky, whale, bigeye thresher, longfin mako and oceanic whitetip, as well as other top fish predators such as the swordfish, white marlin, Dead oiled fish on Grand Isle, Louisiana following theDeepwater Horizon oil spill. May, 2010.

oceana.org 8 Julie Dermansky

Oiled crab at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010.

Corals break up oil damaged deep-water coral year before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The impacts on deep-water ecosystems reefs,74,75 which grow extremely slowly.76 In 2010 and 2011, production was only 2 from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are More than 528,000 gallons of dispersants million pounds, and in 2012, it dropped to at an unprecedented scale and depth. were sprayed into the Gulf in the weeks just 563,100 pounds before increasing to In 2014, scientists realized they had following the oil spill, and scientists 954,950 pounds in 2013, still well below its underestimated the damage from the are just now beginning to learn how historic average.79 Since 2010, Mississippi spill on deep-water corals.70,71 Scientists damaging these chemicals are to marine and Alabama have also experienced poor determined the footprint of the oil plume ecosystems.77 oyster production.80 spilling from the broken wellhead by testing seafloor sediments and found that Invertebrates and Plants The northwestern Gulf of Mexico is home to the highest levels of red, brown and green the most severe impacts on the ecosystem The Deepwater Horizon oil spill disrupted 81 took place within a 2 mile radius from the marine ecosystems, including the seaweed diversity in the area. Many of wellhead, or within about a 15-square- invertebrates and plants that are the the seaweed species sampled months after mile area.72 However, moderate and foundation of the food web. Oyster the spill experienced a dramatic die-off, up severe impacts from the oil plume were catches in Louisiana sharply declined for to more than 160 miles from the site of the 82 discovered over a 92-square-mile area, at least four years following the spill.78 blowout. This loss of seaweed habitat set which is an area nearly three times as Louisiana’s public reefs produced between off a cascade, contributing to a decrease large as Manhattan.73 The toxicity of oil 3 and 7 million pounds of oyster meat per in the abundance and diversity of crabs, and the chemical dispersants used to shrimp and lobsters.83

9 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon higher levels of psychological distress,86 an increase in domestic partner fights, Impacts to Human Health, but even residents of Gulf communities memory loss and lack of concentration.91 Communities and Economies only indirectly affected by the spill reported depression and anxiety.87 Some The Gulf Restoration Network, a local residents reported increased alcohol organization dedicated to uniting and Human Health and drug use.88 Similarly, after the empowering people to protect and In the last year, several landmark studies Exxon Valdez disaster, nearby residents restore the natural resources of the Gulf have demonstrated that the Gulf of Mexico suffered from increased depression, Region,92 has called for policymakers to oil spill is an ongoing public health disaster. anxiety and post-traumatic stress consider the public health implications of Many residents of the Gulf region, as well disorder for nearly a decade, suggesting oil spills, including water quality, seafood as people involved in the cleanup, are still that it will be years before residents of toxicity and pollution from the Gulf’s oil suffering from physical and psychological the Gulf region fully recover.89 and gas industries.93 One thing is clear effects six years later. based on the most recent science: Gulf The 50,000 people involved in the oil spill residents continue to feel the physical After the spill, Gulf residents reported cleanup have an increased risk of physical and psychological effects of the oil spill. increased symptoms of depression, and psychological damage. Exposure anxiety, serious mental illness and post- to oil and/or oil dispersants can cause traumatic stress.84 When re-evaluated Fisheries Economy damage to lung cells, similar to those years later, Gulf residents’ mental and The Gulf of Mexico is an enormous caused by asthma or chronic obstructive behavioral health symptoms had not source of seafood, with more than 100 pulmonary disease.90 Research shows improved.85 People with incomes related commercial fish, crustacean and mollusk that female partners of oil spill clean-up to industries affected by the spill reported species.94 Gulf fishermen land 850,000 workers also experienced depression, Julie Dermansky

Oil-covered beach at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010. oceana.org 10 Julie Dermansky

Oiled waves and sand on Orange Beach, Alabama following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010. tons of fish, worth about $1.38 billion on The recreational fishing industry was average each year.95 The most important also affected. On average, 3.2 million Offshore Drilling Accidents species by weight are Eastern oysters, recreational anglers fish in the Gulf each Continue to Occur brown and white shrimp, blue crab and year, searching for sea trout, kingfish, red menhaden, a type of fish that is converted drum, red snapper and other species.101 The federal government reports into agricultural feed.96 In the months following the oil spill, that in the six years following the recreational fishing took an enormous hit. Deepwater Horizon spill, offshore In the weeks and months following the Between May and August 2010, for-hire drilling resulted in at least: blowout, state and federal officials closed fishing trips declined in Mississippi (98 • 1,066 injuries 88,522 square miles, an area larger percent), Alabama (80 percent), Louisiana than the state of Utah,97 to commercial (60 percent) and western Florida (33 • 496 fires and explosions fisheries.98 These closed areas are the percent).102, 103 Angler trips in personal or • 22 losses of well control source of more than 20 percent of the total rented boats during this time also declined U.S. wild seafood catch.99 The impact of the 13-23 percent from the 10-year average in • 11 spills of at least 2,100 oil spill on fisheries could total $8.7 billion Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.104,105,106 gallons of oil each by 2020, including the loss of 22,000 jobs Economists have estimated over 10 million • 11 fatalities directly related related to commercial, recreational and recreational user-days were lost due to the to offshore drilling.108 mariculture fisheries in the Gulf.100 oil spill.107

11 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon Looking Forward

espite new scientific studies damages, improve the manner in which a complete reorganization in order to Ddemonstrating the ongoing negative funds may be disbursed from the Oil Spill separate its conflicting responsibilities effects of the 2010 oil spill, the health Liability Trust Fund, extend the 30-day to ensure revenue generation while and safety risks from oil drilling have not deadline for reviewing exploration plans, conducting effective regulatory oversight. been addressed. The Deepwater Horizon codify the division of the Department of In October 2011, MMS was reorganized spill resulted in demands for Congress the Interior’s (DOI) planning, revenue, and into three independent agencies with to modify the Outer Continental Shelf enforcement functions, and better fund clearly delineated missions: the Bureau Lands Act and other statutes related to needed science.”111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), offshore oil and gas activities and response the Bureau of Safety and Environmental to spills.109 The National Commission on Yet Congress enacted only one law, Enforcement (BSEE) and the Office of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the RESTORE Act, which deals with Natural Resources Revenue. Offshore Drilling recommended that restoration after the Deepwater Horizon “Congress should review and consider spill and the distribution of administrative Although BSEE has embraced new amending where necessary the governing and civil penalties,117 but does not apply to approaches to drilling safety, the inspections statutes for all agencies involved in the safety of offshore drilling.118,119 are still too sparse and the penalties too offshore activities to be consistent with small. Even with new regulations to increase the responsibilities functionally assigned There have been some steps in the safety with engineering and technical fixes, to those agencies.”110 Recommendations right direction, including a fundamental it is important to note the safety culture of were made to “remove or raise the Oil restructuring of the government agency individual companies and the petroleum Pollution Act of 1990’s (OPA) $75 million involved. Following the spill, the Minerals industry overall has historically been limit on a responsible party’s liability for Management Service (MMS) underwent weak and will take time to change. Julie Dermansky

Oiled hand from Barataria Bay, Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010.

oceana.org 12 In October 2010, BSEE’s Drilling Safety spill prevention rule applicable to in February 2016, BSEE’s ability to carry Rule went into effect. This rule set exploration in the U.S. Arctic Ocean. out investigations, ensure environmental heightened standards for the well design, When finalized, this rule will codify compliance and conduct enforcement casing and cementing of offshore drilling important new requirements, like same- remains woefully inadequate.122 Although projects.120 In April 2015, DOI released a season relief well capability, production the report is new, GAO’s concerns are not: proposed rule, known as the Well Control of an Integrated Operations Plan, and “In February 2011, GAO added Interior’s Rule, to set tighter requirements for seasonal restrictions to account for ice oversight of oil and gas resources to its list the design and maintenance of blowout cover. While important, the new safety and of programs at high risk of waste, fraud, preventers and require other measures prevention requirements do not address abuse and mismanagement or in need of to improve well safety. After much delay, all of the risks in the Arctic and do not broad reform.”123 DOI released a final rule on April 14, 2016. take advantage of other opportunities Although the rule is a step in the right to improve safety and response. On April 13, 2016, the day before the direction, it is not sufficient to ensure release of the final Well Control Rule, the safe drilling operations or protect our Finally, despite the reorganization of Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a oceans. Specifically, the final rule fails to MMS and creation of BSEE as a separate draft report summarizing its most recent reduce compliance periods or improve agency to oversee offshore drilling investigation of the Deepwater Horizon the reliability of blowout preventers by safety and environmental enforcement, disaster. The CSB found that six years requiring redundant blind shear rams it is still clear that there are problems after the disaster, “[A] culture of minimal (which can cut the drill pipe and stop the with the ability of the Bureau to regulatory compliance continues to exist flow of oil).121 effectively carry out these rules and its in the Gulf of Mexico and risk reduction other responsibilities. According to a continues to prove elusive.”124 In its review Additionally, in February 2015, BSEE sharply critical report completed by the of BSEE regulatory actions since the and BOEM proposed a new safety and Government Accountability Office (GAO) disaster, the CSB found that the agency has failed to hold industry truly accountable for risk, or adequately address the effects of industry and workplace culture on safety. The report concludes that BSEE regulations and actions, including the implementation of the Safety and Environmental Management System, “do not go far enough to ensure effective industry management and control of major hazards or prevent possible future Macondo-type incidents.”125

Coastal Opposition to Drilling

oastal communities are expressing Ctheir opposition to expanding drilling in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. In January 2016, coastal leaders from Delaware to Florida met in Washington, D.C. for Oceana’s Coastal Voices Summit to voice their opposition to offshore drilling exploration and development. As of that date, more than 100 East Coast Julie Dermansky municipalities, 100 members of Congress, 700 state and local elected officials and 1,000 businesses representing tourism, fisheries and a multitude of other interests Dead dolphin washed up on the beach in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. August, 2010.

13 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon

Seismic Airgun Blasting in marine wildlife.131 Seismic airgun noise the Atlantic: A Dangerous can be heard up to 2,500 miles from its source, which is farther than the distance Precursor to Offshore Drilling from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas.132 formally opposed offshore oil and gas In January 2015, the Obama drilling and/or exploration. In March 2016, administration proposed a plan for Seismic airgun noise can interfere with the administration responded to this offshore oil and gas leasing for the 2017- whale foraging and breeding and can outpouring of opposition by removing the 2022 period that would have allowed interrupt communication between Atlantic lease sale from the draft 2017- drilling along the southeastern U.S. mothers and calves, increasing the risk 2022 plan for offshore oil and gas leasing. coast from Virginia to Georgia, a region of calves being separated from their that had previously been protected mothers.133,134 Low-frequency ship noise Along the Atlantic coast, nearly 1.4 million from offshore oil and gas exploration. can increase stress-related hormone jobs and more than $95 billion in gross Although the administration decided in levels in North Atlantic right whales. domestic product rely on healthy ocean March 2016 to remove the proposed This suggests that the noise from ecosystems, mainly through fishing, Atlantic lease sale from the plan, the seismic airguns could lead to chronic tourism and recreation.126 federal government is still reviewing stress, which can reduce overall health applications for companies to use or reproductive rates in North Atlantic right whales, of which only about 500 The Final Word seismic airguns to search for oil and gas deposits deep below the ocean floor remain, as well as for other whale in an area twice the size of California, species in the area proposed for seismic ix years after the Deepwater stretching from Delaware to Florida.127 surveying.135 SHorizon oil spill, scientists are documenting its continued impacts Seismic airgun blasting would pose Seismic airgun noise can also have on marine ecosystems, the economy significant threats to marine life in the impacts on fish and mollusks, which and human health. It will take many Atlantic. Each airgun array contains could threaten the southeastern more years for the toll from this oil spill approximately 12-48 individual Atlantic’s vital commercial fishing to be fully understood. What we do airguns.128 These seismic airguns fire industry. Now that offshore lease sales know – and have demonstrated in this every 10 to 12 seconds, 24 hours a in the Atlantic have been removed from report – is that opening new areas to day,129,130 and their explosive sounds the draft plan for 2017-2022, there is offshore drilling poses dangerous and are loud enough to significantly disrupt little need for seismic airgun data. unacceptable risks. Julie Dermansky

Oil-tinged waves on Orange Beach, Alabama following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010.

oceana.org 14 Recommendations

resident Obama should not allow species of fish.137,138,139 The recovery of so that we can restore losses and prevent Padditional leasing, exploration or endangered species and the sustainability future disasters. development in frontier areas. of commercial and recreational fisheries is compromised by the search for oil. We Scientists have learned much about the Prevent additional leasing, exploration should not subject marine environments effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in or development in frontier areas—such as to undue harm from seismic airgun blasting the past six years, but our understanding the Atlantic, Arctic and ultra-deepwater— in areas that are not being considered of its impacts is still just beginning to until and unless companies can show they for drilling. take shape. We are still documenting can operate safely and without harming the effects of the Exxon Valdez spill from the health of the ecosystem and a plan The United States should transition away decades ago. We need continued research is in place to transition to a clean energy from offshore oil drilling and instead and monitoring, as well as population economy. invest in cleaner, safer technologies modeling, to fully understand the like offshore wind and other renewable ecosystems’ losses and resilience. In the President Obama should not allow energy sources. meantime, the best way to protect our offshore drilling in new areas or coasts – and the people and wildlife living areas where vulnerable ecosystems In a 2015 report on offshore energy, there – is to prevent disasters such as will be at risk. Oceana found that a modest and gradual these before they happen. development of offshore wind on the Engineers, technicians and scientists East Coast could generate enough power could not stop the oil from spewing from Oceana thanks the Obama administration for over 115 million households.140 We the broken Deepwater Horizon wellhead for removing the Atlantic from the 2017- also found that over the next 20 years, for three months. Other oil spills, such as 2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and offshore wind could create about 91,000 the 2015 Santa Barbara spill,136 suggest Gas Leasing Proposed Program and urges more jobs than offshore drilling, which is that we have not learned the lesson it to remove the Arctic Ocean as well. about double the job creation potential of that oil extraction is risky. Since 2010, However, the only long-term solution to offshore drilling in the same area.141 Congress has yet to address the dangers prevent the harm caused by offshore oil of offshore drilling in the U.S. Although spills and accidents is to decrease our Decision makers, federal and state agency rulemaking and industry initiatives dependence on fossil fuels and transition governments, and the public should have made some progress in increasing to clean, renewable energy sources such continue to monitor and learn from the 142 the safety of offshore operations, they fall as offshore wind power. effects of the Deepwater Horizon disaster short of the fundamental reform necessary to justify operations in the Atlantic Ocean or federal waters in the Arctic Ocean.

The federal government should fully implement the well control rule and finalize Arctic-specific regulations.

Once the federal government has completed these efforts, it should undertake comprehensive reform of the regulations governing five-year programs, lease sales, exploration and development. Georgia Department of Natural Resources

President Obama should not allow seismic airgun blasting where marine life can be harmed.

The blasts from seismic airguns, which occur every 10 to 12 seconds, 24 hours a day, for weeks or even months, are devastating to marine wildlife, including commercially and recreationally valuable

Oiled sargassum in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. June, 2010.

15 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon

Endnotes

1 Lane, S. M., Smith, C. R., Mitchell, J., Mental health impact of the Deepwater 23 Campagna, C., Short, F. T., Polidoro, B. A., Balmer, B. C., Barry, K. P., McDonald, T., Horizon Oil Spill among wives of clean-up McManus, R., Collette, B. B., Pilcher, N. J., … Speakman, T. R. (2015). Reproductive workers. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.), … Carpenter, K. E. (2011). Gulf of Mexico outcome and survival of common bottlenose 26(4), e44. oil blowout increases risks to globally dolphins sampled in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, threatened species. BioScience, 61(5), 11 Grattan, L. M., Roberts, S., Mahan Jr., W. T., USA, following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. 393-397. McLaughlin, P. K., Otwell, W. S., & Morris Jr., Paper presented at the Proc. R. Soc. B. J. G. (2011). The early psychological impacts 24 Council, G. C. E. R. (2013). Draft 2 Haney, J. C., Geiger, H. J., and Short, J. W. of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Florida Programmatic Environmental Assessment for (2014). Bird mortality from the Deepwater and Alabama communities. Environmental the Draft Initial Comprehensive Plan: Restoring Horizon oil spill. II. Carcass sampling and health perspectives, 119(6), 838. the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy. exposure probability in the coastal Gulf 12 Hansel, T. C., Osofsky, H. J., Osofsky, J. D., & 25 Council, G. C. E. R. (2013). Draft of Mexico. Inter-Research Marine Ecology Speier, A. (2015). Longer-Term Mental and Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Progress Series, 513. Behavioral Health Effects of the Deepwater the Draft Initial Comprehensive Plan: Restoring 3 Gunderson, D. (2012). BP oil spill residue Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Journal of Marine the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy. found on pelicans in Minn., from http:// Science and Engineering, 3(4), 1260-1271. 26 TSOTG. (2014). Comparison Between www.mprnews.org/story/2012/05/16/ 13 Sumaila, U. R., Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M., Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez Oil environment/oil-residue-found-on-pelicans Dyck, A., Huang, L., Cheung, W., Jacquet, Spill Incidents. 4 Brette, F., Machado, B., Cros, C., Incardona, J., Kleisner, K., Lam, V., McCrea-Strub, 27 Moss., L. (2010). The 13 Largest Oil Spills in J. P., Scholz, N. L., & Block, B. A. (2014). A., Swartz, W., Watson, R., Zeller, D., and History. Crude oil impairs cardiac excitation- Pauly, D. . (2012). Impact of the Deepwater Mother Nature Network, Wilderness and Resources. contraction coupling in fish.Science, Horizon well blowout on the economics of 343(6172), 772-776. US Gulf fisheries.Can J Fish Aquat Sci. doi: 28 Moss., L. (2010). The 13 Largest Oil Spills in 10.1139/F2011-171 History. 5 Mager, E. M., Esbaugh, A. J., Stieglitz, J. Mother Nature Network, Wilderness

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19 OCEANA | Time for Action: Six Years After Deepwater Horizon Julie Dermansky

OCEANA is the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation. We run science-based campaigns and seek to win policy victories that can restore ocean biodiversity and ensure that the oceans are abundant and can feed hundreds of millions of people. Oceana victories have already helped to create policies that could increase fish populations in its countries by as much as 40 percent and that have protected more than 1 million square miles of ocean. We have campaign offices in the countries that control close to 40 percent of the world’s wild fish catch, including in North, South and Central America, Asia, and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.