[StBernard] BP Oil Spill Response Update: EPA, U.S. Coast Guard Provide Dispersant Updates

[Westley Annis]

EPA, U.S. Coast Guard Provide Dispersant Updates 
  
WASHINGTON - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson and United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry held a press
conference call today to discuss BP's use of dispersants in the Gulf of
Mexico. On the call, the Administrator and Rear Admiral Landry provided the
following update: 

  

.         EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard are taking steps that could reduce
the volume of dispersants applied in the Gulf.  While we do know dispersants
are less toxic and shorter-lived than the oil, much remains unknown about
their impact on the environment when used in these unprecedented volumes.
For that reason, EPA and the USCG are directing that BP use dispersants in
the most effective and efficient way possible, thereby minimizing the total
amount used.  What the monitoring data indicates so far is that the
underwater use of dispersants is effective at breaking up the oil and, to
this point, does not seem to have had any significant impacts on aquatic
life.  Using the dispersant underwater at the source of the leak also
requires far less dispersant to be applied.  For this reason, EPA and USCG
have informed BP that they should focus the use of dispersants underwater
and only use the dispersants on the surface under specific conditions- for
example, if they are unable to apply them underwater for a period of time.
This could cut overall dispersant use by half and possibly more. 

  

.         EPA and U.S. Coast Guard consider BP's scientific analysis of
alternative dispersants insufficient.  Late last week EPA directed BP to
analyze other available, pre-approved dispersants to determine if an
alternative dispersant proved less toxic and more effective.  BP responded
to the directive within 24 hours. EPA and the Coast Guard believe their
response was insufficient and lacked sufficient analysis.  We are concerned
that BP seemed, in their response, more interested in defending their
initial decisions than analyzing possible better options. 

  

.         EPA and other government scientists will independently verify the
data presented by BP.  As a result of being dissatisfied with the response,
and to ensure that we know as much as we can know about the current
environmental impact, EPA will be performing independent scientific
verification of the data BP presented.  We will conduct our own tests to
determine the least toxic, most effective dispersant available in the
volumes necessary for a crisis of this magnitude.  Our toxicity tests will
address the claims and conclusions put forth by BP in their response to us
late last week.  And EPA scientists have been tasked with conducting
parallel, independent tests to determine if BP's argument that Corexit
remains the best alternative is accurate and supported by the science. 

  

Rear Admiral Landry is sending a letter to BP this evening formally
reiterating the steps outlined by the Administrator and the Admiral in
today's conference call. That letter will be made public as soon as it is
sent. 

  

R190 

  

________________________________

BP Oil Spill Response: Web site <http://www.epa.gov/bpspill>  | Get email
updates
<http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USAEPA_389>