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That's right, 82 days, and the oil is still flowing. This weekend it is actually flowing free without containment. BP is trying, yet another, containment cap in hopes that they will be able suck up the flowing oil. Until the new cap is in place Monday, the old cap has been taken off and oil is free-flowing.
But also flowing is Corexit, the dispersant that has been banned by the rest of the world, but the EPA seems fine allowing BP, their contractors, and possibly the US Coast Guard to spray under the water, on the water, and from the air (even close to and over land).
Corexit contains a chemical called 2-butoxyethanol which is know to cause headaches, vomiting and reproductive problems. It has been described as deodorized kerosene. 20% of offshore oilspill responders have complained of becoming sick from Corexit which is absorbed by breathing the fumes of this compound. 15% of near shore workers have become il, and reports are being tabulated of the numbers of shore-based workers who have become il from exposure that is more than 4 times as toxic as the oil it was used to conceal. Any workers who become il at a BP sponsored work site are being treated at a company sponsored clinic, from where numbers of sick workers are being withheld and treatments classified. The EPA has said that everything's fine here, the same way they said the air was safe for the workers to breath after 9/11 as they cleaned up Ground Zero. How'd that work out? Oh yea, hundreds now have chronic lung disease.
"Conceal", you say? Yes, BP has to date sprayed nearly 2 million gallons, that they've reported of this severely toxic chemical into the oil spill area. The sole purpose of Corexit was to break the oil into smaller molecules so that horrendous pictures of solid patches of oil on the water, beaches, and marshlands were sure to stay off of television
Also, in an attempt to conceal the damages from this event, BP had used the Coast Guard to now make it illegal to come within 65' of oil, boom, or cleanup efforts for the purpose of photographing said effects. The crime, a felony punishable by jail time and a 40,000$ fine per count.
Given the safety concerns of the dispersant, oh yes and the oil, BP has prohibitted any cleanup worker from wearing a respirator. Not only will they not provide them, but will remove any worker who brings their own
To date, BP has also only paid 14% of claims that they have deemed legitimate.
So, it's day 82, the oil is still flowing, people are getting really sick, and BP is not paying the damage bill or legit claims filed against them. Oh, and there's the dead animals. As of July 8, 1571 dead birds, 449 dead sea turtles, and 54 dead marine mammals (reported to the USFWS www.dailydeadbirds.com )
And for me, this the morning of Day 35 in the Gulf (Mobile Bay). The 14th day this rotation in addition to 21back in May, soon after this started. Wow, it stinks today out here.
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