Oil in the keys already????

[bmajvi]

IMHO it's hard at this point to accurately forecast the spill's eventual true impact, and gov't, big biz, media, environmentalists, tourism officials, apocalyptic visionaries, self-proclaimed internet experts, etc., are working overtime to spin the story in every direction possible to suit their own individual vested interests. I doubt that anybody really "knows" what's going to happen in 2 days, 2 months or 2 years.

The reality is that a whole s#@tload of oil is being released into the Gulf, and they're having a hell of a time stopping it - that's bad. It seems to have been caused by some people ignoring rules and established safe practices, and that's bad too. Oil mucking up sensitive wetlands, killing birds and fish, fouling beaches and trashing coastal community economies...bad, bad, bad.

I don't see how very much good is going to come out of this...maybe clearer, stricter regs? Maybe a rethinking of the "Drill, baby, drill!" mentality? Fasten your seat belts, it may be a bumpy ride. Best wishes to all in the affected areas.

[MasterBaiter]

New regs is something we certainly don't need. Why would we need another branch of the government not doing their job.

I was thinking the other day that whenever there is a storm and power lines for example go down, other power companys sent people over to help. There doesn't seem to be any other oil company helping? You would think it would be in the best interest of all involved. It may even help to have them police themselves against shortcuts. Heck, I'm a pretty patient guy and I'm only going to help someone once or twice before he is on his own.

[cdavisdb]

It may even help to have them police themselves against shortcuts.

Isn't this exactly what BP was doing? After all, self regulation has worked fine for years in the Gulf. Why spend the extra dough to install the additional cut off valves that are required in places like the North Sea? Too much $, what can possibly go wrong?

[hermco]

http://motherjones.com/environment/2...and-isle-beach

[Ryank]

There doesn't seem to be any other oil company helping?

There have been offers, and they have been rejected. BP wants to own this, and does not want the advice of other oil companies. They also have stalled for way too long in hopes of collecting as much of the oil as possible without having to permanently seal off the Leak (Really its a major blow out ) Personally I feel that the shutoff valve had not been sufficiently tested in water a mile deep and that is part of the failure issue, who really knows. If BP is such a caring good company why are they charging for people to take their Hazmat class in Tampa They are aslimy, shady company that will do anything for profit. Personally I hope they never get to drill in the GOM ever again. I also will refuse to purchase any BP products ( Fuel, Castrol Oil) Etc ever!!!

[Blue_Heron]

IMHO it's hard at this point to accurately forecast the spill's eventual true impact, and gov't, big biz, media, environmentalists, tourism officials, apocalyptic visionaries, self-proclaimed internet experts, etc., are working overtime to spin the story in every direction possible to suit their own individual vested interests. I doubt that anybody really "knows" what's going to happen in 2 days, 2 months or 2 years.

I agree. And I withdraw my earlier comments. This is a bigger mess than I thought at the time. I don't think they should ban drilling, but BP has certainly shown us how to do pretty much everything wrong.

[NoBones]

Here is a couple of good ole' cracker boys with the
solution to the problem!!
Hay Soak

See ya, Ken

[Islandtrader]

I would imagine there would be a lot of simple solutions...but just like a flat tax it is too simple

[gofastsandman]

The Russians would have probably set off a nuke in the seabed next to this thing a few days after it started and sealed it instantly! Seems a little strange there hasn't been more discussion of that. We did underground nuke tests for years, so there should be plenty of data on how close and how deep it would have to be to melt all the rock around the hole!

Many disturbing things are not being discussed.

It may be too close to other rigs to risk it.

The dispersant being used was banned in the UK 10 years ago for toxicity. BP has "no idea about this" They "just have a bunch of it, and that is why we`re using it".

Translation. It makes it sink really well.

The dispersant makes the sweet crude turn to taffy clogging the skimmers.

I know this is not a political site and I think we all share the horror.

The disolved O2 is already low in the Gulf. The microbes and bacteria which will attack and eat the oil will grow in numbers corresponding to the threat. They need O2 as well. Add the oil and watch the carnage.

The collapse of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton will amputate the food chain.

At 110 days the oil in the Gulfstream will travel 5600 miles @2 kts. Kittery, Me. is @1500 miles to WPB.
North of 20 million gals if you believe their "estimate".
Add a zero to their "estimate".

[Mark]

There was a post by a fairly prominent charter captain who is based in Louisiana commenting on one of the larger fishing forums in the week after the spill that this was all being blown out of proportion and that within a month nobody would so much as remember this spill.

I wish for his sake and everyone else's that he'd been correct.