Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass) released this weekend the findings of an investigation into the use of dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico. The investigation finds
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass) released this weekend the findings of an investigation into the use of dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico. The investigation finds “excessive” use of the potentially harmful chemicals used to break up oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, according to Markey.
The investigation found that the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard approved more than 74 requests by BP and the Unified Command Center in Louisiana to deviate from requirements for dispersant use. And this is all after EPA and the Coast Guard issued a directive May 26 that told BP to eliminate the surface use of dispersant (except in “rare cases” that would require an exemption), reduce the overall volume of dispersant that is used and limit subsurface dispersant use, Markey notes.
According to a July 30 letter from Markey, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s energy and environment subcommittee:
“„An analysis of the exemption request letters submitted by both BP and Houma Unified Command, as well as other documents provided to me by the [Coast Guard], reveals that since the Directive was issued on May 26, more than 74 exemption requests have been submitted and, usually within the same day, approved by the [Coast Guard]. On 5 separate occasions BP submitted requests for pre-authorized exemptions to deviate from EPA and [Coast Guard] intructions by applying 6,000 gallons of dispersant per day to the ocean surface for an entire week, amounting to 35 days of pre-approved continuous use.
MA-Sen: 150 Conservative Bloggers Fan Out, Looking for Scandals
BOSTON -- The mysterious Election Journal blog, which first released the infamous 2008 video of two bumbling New Black Panther Party members waving nightsticks
MA-Sen: 66 to 19
BOSTON -- That, via Alex Isenstadt and Josh Kraushaar, is the number that defined the Massachusetts Senate race more than anything else. From the primary
MA-Sen: A Text Message From Scott Brown
BOSTON -- Having signed up for Scott Brown’s text message service for election day, I just got this text: Are you about to have lunch? It’s a great time to
MA-Sen: Loyal Democrats Grouse About Coakley
BOSTON -- A little while after noon, a steady crowd of Democratic voters streamed into the Cathedral High School Gymnasium to cast votes for their party’s
MA-Sen: Brown Wins
BOSTON -- At 9:20, the first rumors of Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts Senate race started to work around the room. A moment later, Doug Flutie
MA-Sen Photos: ‘Paint the Town Red! Croakley’s Dead!’
Below are some photos of yesterday’s People’s Rally in Worcester, the rally that Brown held to counter-program the Obama rally in Boston. The crush of
MA-Sen: Out-of-Staters for Brown
BOSTON -- A surprising discovery at yesterday’s People’s Rally in Worcester was just how many people had traveled into the state to assist, in whatever way,
Menendez, Lautenberg to Continue BP-Lockerbie Investigation
Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, both New Jersey Democrats, will continue to seek details about BP’s alleged involvement in the release last year of
Net Investors Bullish on Palin’s Prospects for Staying on Ticket
Just for fun, the Internet prediction Website Intrade has opened a contract on whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will be withdrawn as McCain’s running mate.
No Experience Necessary
Gov. Sarah Palin’s a middle-class hockey mom, but does that really qualify her to be vice president?