The oil dispersant Corexit, previously only used as a surface application, was released underwater in unprecedented amounts, with the intent of making it more easily biodegraded by naturally occurring microbes. Washington, DC 20036. "[297] In June, BP launched a PR campaign and successfully bid for several search terms related to the spill on Google and other search engines so that the first sponsored search result linked directly to the company's website. Government officials acting on behalf of the public when there is injury to, destruction of, loss of, or threat to natural resources. [202] According to J. Christopher Haney, Harold Geiger, and Jeffrey Short, three researchers with extensive experience in environmental monitoring and post-spill mortality assessments, over one million coastal birds died as a direct result of the Deepwater Horizon spill. [157][158] After one week of testing, BP began to proceed[159] and by 28 June, had removed 890,000bbl (141,000m3). These projects allowed us to start restoring the Gulf before the formal damage assessment ended. The settlement ended all civil and criminal penalty claims against the owners and operators of the rig BP, Anadarko, TransOcean and Halliburton under the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act. The deal would settle roughly 100,000 claims filed by individuals and businesses affected by the spill. [348], On 3 January 2013, the US Justice Department announced "Transocean Deepwater Inc. has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and to pay a total of $1.4billion in civil and criminal fines and penalties". They used this assessment to develop a science-based, comprehensive restoration plan for the Gulf of Mexico, which will be funded through a settlement with BP for up to $8.8 billion. This webpage is limited to EPAs enforcement-related activities only, and does not cover all legal or other actions against BP Exploration & Production and other parties for the spill, such as private party/class action settlements for medical claims and economic damages, or other actions against those responsible for the spill. [116] The fires released small amounts of toxins, including cancer-causing dioxins. Fish and Wildlife Service rescued animals to help with the spill cleanup, although there were many animals found dead. [170][171], The first video images were released on 12 May, and further video images were released by members of Congress who had been given access to them by BP. Researchers concluded that deep plumes of dissolved oil and gas would likely remain confined to the northern Gulf of Mexico and that the peak impact on dissolved oxygen would be delayed and long lasting. "[116] Altogether, 1.8410^6USgal (7,000m3) of dispersants were used; of this 771,000USgal (2,920m3) were released at the wellhead. The oil well was capped three months later, after 24/7 news coverage. [148] In a major study on the plume, experts were most concerned about the slow pace at which the oil was breaking down in the cold, 40F (4C) water at depths of 3,000ft (900m). Appropriate nutrients and dispersants are used in conjunction to help induce growth and increase surface area between oil and microbe by emulsifying the oil respectively [10](refer to Figure 4). [13] Due to the months-long spill, along with adverse effects from the response and cleanup activities, extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats and fishing and tourism industries was reported. It is possible to add fertilizers, such as iron, nitrogen and phosphorus, to stimulate the growth of such bacteria, an approach used to speed up microbial activity in the sediment along the Alaska. Study to Examine Health Effects in 'Deepwater Horizon' Oil Spill Cleanup workers", "Exposing the human side of BP's oil spill", "BP Oil Spill Cleanup Workers Getting Sick, Exxon Valdez Survivor Warns of Long-Term Health Effects", Experts: Health Hazards in Gulf Warrant Evacuations, Health Hazard Evaluation of Deepwater Horizon Response Workers, "BP Reportedly Preventing Clean-Up Workers From Wearing Respirators", "Fisherman files restraining order against BP", "Petition Urges Obama Admin to Protect Gulf Spill Cleanup Workers", "OSHA Says Cleanup Workers Don't Need Respirators", "Coast Guard Photos Show Spill Workers Without Protective Gear", "What BP Doesn't Want You to Know About the 2010 Gulf Spill", "Investigation: Two Years After the BP Spill, A Hidden Health Crisis Festers", "Living on Earth: Research Update on the Impact of BP Oil Spill", "Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference (2123 January 2013, New Orleans, LA)", "BP Deepwater Horizon spill: Scientists say seafood safe, but health effects being measured", "2016 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference", "2017 Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference". . assessedinjuries to natural resourcessuch as fish, bottom-dwelling organisms, nearshore ecosystems, birds, sea turtles, and marine mammalsand lost recreation resulting from the spill. [165][168] The delivery method of microbes to oil patches was proposed by the Russian Research and Development Institute of Ecology and the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. [254], The spill had a strong economic impact to BP [255] and also the Gulf Coast's economy sectors such as offshore drilling, fishing and tourism. [194] The oil and dispersant mixture permeated the food chain through zooplankton. were used to cleanup after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. You may remember the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened in 2010, where 3.19 million barrels of oil spilled off the Gulf of Mexico. Oil spill transport and fate models are effective tools which allow a . ", "Limits on access to oiled waters, coast frustrates journalists", "It's BP's Oil': Running the Corporate Blockade at Louisiana's Crude-Covered Beaches, "BP's Photo Blockade of the Gulf Oil Spill: Photographers Say BP and Government Officials Are Preventing Them from Documenting the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster", "Dying, dead marine wildlife paint dark, morbid picture of Gulf Coast following oil spill". In March 2014, BP was again allowed to bid for oil and gas leases. $7.1 billion for restoration stretching more than 15 years beginning in 2017. [2] It was drilling a deep exploratory well, 18,360ft (5,600m) below sea level, in approximately 5,100ft (1,600m) of water. [90][91] On 16 September 2010, the relief well reached its destination and pumping of cement to seal the well began. Traditional methods of oil spill cleaning include processes such as controlled burns, skimmers, vacuum pumping, low-pressure flush, manual mechanical cleanup, gelling agent, and many more [3], most of which merely remove the hydrocarbon from the affected water or environment and transfers them to another location. [79] On 3 June 2010, BP removed the damaged drilling riser from the top of the blowout preventer and covered the pipe by the cap which connected it to another riser. [319] Still another was for not plugging the pipe with cement. Draft, National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, "For BP Cleanup, 2013 Meant 4.6 Million Pounds Of Oily Gunk", "Oil from BP spill pushed onto shelf off Tampa Bay by underwater currents, study finds", "Record Dolphin, Sea Turtle Deaths Since Gulf Spill", "Toxins released by oil spills send fish hearts into cardiac arrest", "Fish Embryos Exposed to Oil From BP Spill Develop Deformities, a Study Finds", "Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Team Releases Final Report", "BP Mostly, But Not Entirely, to Blame for Gulf Spill National", "Obama oil spill commission's final report blames disaster on cost-cutting by BP and partners", "BP Will Plead Guilty and Pay Over $4 Billion", "BP pleads guilty to manslaughter in 2010 gulf oil spill", "BP suspended from new US federal contracts over Deepwater disaster", "BP Deepwater Horizon costs balloon to $65 billion", "BP May Be Fined Up to $18 Billion for Spill in Gulf", "Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlements: Where the money went", "Transocean:: Deepwater Horizon Drills World's Deepest Oil & Gas Well", "Deepwater Horizon Sinks Offshore Louisiana", "At least 11 workers missing after La. [191] PAHs can harm marine species directly and microbes used to consume the oil can reduce marine oxygen levels. This oil sheen decreases the amount of sunlight reaching organisms in the water and forms a barrier between the air and water, blocking oxygen and other necessary nutrients from diffusing into the water. "[318] BP released a statement in response to this, saying, that "even prior to the conclusion of the commission's investigation, BP instituted significant changes designed to further strengthen safety and risk management. [17] One study released in 2014 reported that tuna and amberjack that were exposed to oil from the spill developed deformities of the heart and other organs that would be expected to be fatal or at least life-shortening and another study found that cardiotoxicity might have been widespread in animal life exposed to the spill. Post-oil spill samples on the other hand, contain mostly oil-degrading organisms with drastic decrease in diversity. The plaintiffs included the U.S. Justice Department, Gulf states and private individuals. The risk for new deep-sea spills is not expected to decrease in the future, as political pressure mounts to access deep-water fossil reserves, and poorly tested technologies are used to access oil. "[280] Interior Secretary Ken Salazar stated, "Our job basically is to keep the boot on the neck of British Petroleum. Oil plumes as large as 17 kilometers in diameter were detected just beneath the surface [11] . [81][324] This fund was set aside for natural resource damages, state and local response costs, and individual compensation, but could not be used for fines or penalties. [187] The U.S. [42][43][44] The total estimated volume of leaked oil approximated 4.9Mbbl (210million USgal; 780,000m3) with plus or minus 10% uncertainty,[3] including oil that was collected,[45] making it the world's largest accidental spill. 4) Is there a way to isolate the genes responsible for oil degrading microbes and introduce them to indigenous microbe populations that are incapable of oil degrading? A massive response ensued to protect beaches, wetlands and estuaries from the spreading oil utilizing skimmer ships, floating booms, controlled burns and 1.8410^6USgal (7,000m3) of oil dispersant. As of January2013[update], 935personnel were still involved. NIOSH personnel performed air monitoring around cleanup workers at sea, on land, and during the application of Corexit. [6][46] BP challenged the higher figure, saying that the government overestimated the volume. USCG said 3310^6USgal (120,000m3) of tainted water was recovered, including 510^6USgal (19,000m3) of oil. [369], None of the charges against individuals resulted in any prison time, and no charges were levied against upper level executives. Pelican eggs contained "petroleum compounds and Corexit". Mac McClelland for Mother Jones, 24 May 2010. [74] Pumping heavy drilling fluids into the blowout preventer to restrict the flow of oil before sealing it permanently with cement ("top kill") also failed. The court ruled that BP hadn't explained "how this court or the district court should identify or even discern the existence of 'claimants that have suffered no cognizable injury. [287] The American Petroleum Institute (API) stated that the offshore drilling industry is important to job creation and economic growth. This adds to the already soaring greenhouse gas concentration. Due to the effectiveness and lower cost of bioremediation, two methods. "[151][152], The three basic approaches for removing the oil from the water were: combustion, offshore filtration, and collection for later processing. [172] All flights in the operations' area were prohibited except flight authorized by air traffic control; routine flights supporting offshore oil operations; federal, state, local and military flight operations supporting spill response; and air ambulance and law enforcement operations. [263][264][265] The U.S. Travel Association estimated that the economic impact of the oil spill on tourism across the Gulf Coast over a three-year period could exceed approximately $23billion, in a region that supports over 400,000travel industry jobs generating $34billion in revenue annually. $159.5 million Civil Penalty Ruling Against Anadarko Petroleum Co. The second had been intended to serve as a backup and was not completed. Below is a summary of areas in which more research needs to be done. In April 2010, the accident began after a spill from a seafloor oil gusher, leading to the explosion of BP's oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, in its Macondo . Calling the vicinity of the spill "one of the most productive ocean ecosystems in the world", the study found that even at very low concentrations "PAH cardiotoxicity was potentially a common form of injury among a broad range of species in the vicinity of the oil. [188][189] Between May and June 2010, the spill waters contained 40 times more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than before the spill. [320] In the report, BP was accused of nine faults. This page was last edited on 27 December 2012, at 05:17. "[309] The investigation by United States Attorney General Eric Holder was announced on 1 June 2010. Petroleum is constantly seeping through cracks and vents on the ocean floor; organisms like Pseudomonas thrive in petroleum present environments have evolved mechanisms that would allow them to use the energy rich hydrocarbons as a nutrient source [10]. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also referred to as the "BP oil spill") was an industrial disaster that began on 20 April 2010 off of the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect,[6][7][8][9] considered to be the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry and estimated to be 8 to 31 percent larger in volume than the previous largest, the Ixtoc I oil spill, also in the Gulf of Mexico. Only about 800,000 barrels had been captured. [328], The GCCF and its administrator Feinberg had been criticized about the amount and speed of payments as well as a lack of transparency. A study based on samples taken at several beaches in the Gulf of Mexico before and after the BP oil spill showed a drastic change in the microbial community at the locations [5]. [116] EPA regulations prohibited skimmers that left more than 15 parts per million (ppm) of oil in the water. [123], For a time, a group called Matter of Trust, citing insufficient availability of manufactured oil absorption booms, campaigned to encourage hair salons, dog groomers and sheep farmers to donate hair, fur and wool clippings, stuffed in pantyhose or tights, to help contain oil near impacted shores, a technique dating back to the Exxon Valdez disaster. Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. [249], Two years after the spill, a study initiated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found biomarkers matching the oil from the spill in the bodies of cleanup workers. [172][177][178][179][180][181][182] In some cases photographers were granted access only with BP officials escorting them on BP-contracted boats and aircraft. Oil is a biological. Including one-time use sorbent booms, a total of 13,300,000ft (4,100km) of booms were deployed. The well is situated in the Macondo Prospect in Mississippi Canyon Block 253 (MC253) of the Gulf of Mexico, in the United States' exclusive economic zone. [326][327] Until this more than one million claims of 220,000 individual and business claimants were processed and more than $6.2billion was paid out from the fund. [10], In May 2010, BP admitted they had "discovered things that were broken in the sub-surface" during the "top kill" effort. [355], The trial's first phase was to determine the liability of BP, Transocean, Halliburton, and other companies, and if they acted with gross negligence and willful misconduct. [181], On 15 April 2014, BP announced that cleanup along the coast was substantially complete, while the United States Coast Guard work continued using physical barriers such as floating booms, the cleanup workers' objective was to keep the oil from spreading any further. [172], The FAA denied that BP employees or contractors made decisions on flights and access, saying those decisions were made by the FAA and Coast Guard. [59] As of January2011[update], tar balls, oil sheen trails, fouled wetlands marsh grass and coastal sands were still evident. Members of the genus Pseudomonas have a very versatile metabolism and are ubiquitous; they possess a set of genes that allow them to degrade most petroleum compounds including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which are the most stable and recalcitrant compounds proven to be toxic to many organisms including humans [4]. [342][344], On 14 November 2012, BP and the US Department of Justice reached a settlement. 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