British Petroleum, Coast Guard, Oil Spill, Thad Allen, Uncategorized

Thad Allen rejects accusations that too many chemicals were used…

So the article in the Austin Statesman begins: The government’s point man on the Gulf oil spill is rejecting assertions that federal officials allowed BP too much leeway to use chemical dispersants. Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said Sunday that federal regulators did not ignore environmental guidelines. He says some field commanders had authority to allow more dispersants to be used on a case-by-case … Continue reading Thad Allen rejects accusations that too many chemicals were used…

Drake ToulouseAugust 1, 2010August 1, 2010Leave a comment

Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Katrina, Mental Illness, Oil Spill, Social Work

Update: The State of Mental Health in the Gulf Coast…Here Come the Numbers!

From Kenneth Feinberg, soon to be arbitrator of the $20 billion dollar fund during a congressional hearing on July 21st – “If you start compensating purely mental anguish without a physical injury — anxiety, stress — we’ll be getting millions of claims from people watching television…you have to draw the line somewhere. I think it would be highly unlikely that we would compensate mental damage, … Continue reading Update: The State of Mental Health in the Gulf Coast…Here Come the Numbers!

Drake ToulouseAugust 1, 2010August 1, 20101 Comment

Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Gulf Coast, Oil Spill, Ray Mabus, Restore the Wetlands

A Plan to Save The Wetlands…

On June 15th, when Obama gave his speech about the BP oil spill catastraphuk, he said the following: “…It’s also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region. The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that’s already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and … Continue reading A Plan to Save The Wetlands…

Drake ToulouseJuly 27, 2010July 27, 20101 Comment

British Petroleum, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Oil Spill

Turns Out The Telegraph was Wrong…BP – Record Loss for 2nd Quarter…kind of.

As I put up in a previous post, the Telegraph previously reported BP was set to announce a $5 billion dollar profit, but according to the morning Chicago Tribune, this is anything but the case: BP said the $32.2 billion charge for the cost of the spill led it to record a loss of $17 billion for the second quarter, compared with a profit of … Continue reading Turns Out The Telegraph was Wrong…BP – Record Loss for 2nd Quarter…kind of.

Drake ToulouseJuly 27, 2010July 27, 2010Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Gulf Coast, Macondo Well, Oil Spill

American Zombie Visits the Spill…Anatomy of an Oil Spill, Part I

Now that the well is reportedly capped…reportedly…it would seem a collective sigh of relief is in order. That is if you don’t stop to think about the damage already done. In the past few days, I had the grand opportunity to survey some of that damage. I have had the good fortune of being able to fly out over the BP/Macondo site, and over other … Continue reading American Zombie Visits the Spill…Anatomy of an Oil Spill, Part I

Drake ToulouseJuly 27, 2010July 27, 2010Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Coast Guard, Control the Information, Oil Spill, Thad Allen

Hundreds of Thousands of patches of oil…skimmers?

Thad Allen, National Incident Commander said today at a press briefing, “There are hundreds of thousands of patches of oil in the Gulf of Mexico,” as a result of British Petroleum’s catastraphuk. He went onto say, “The ultimate impact of the spill, the amount of tarballs…will be the subject of long-term surveillance. Our goal would be to keep as much of it off the beaches … Continue reading Hundreds of Thousands of patches of oil…skimmers?

Drake ToulouseJuly 26, 2010July 26, 2010Leave a comment

Gulf Coast, Oil Spill

From Project Katrina Hope: What You Can Do To Help The Gulf Coast

Sometimes, it’s difficult to think what to do in situations like this, these problems that are so large, so overwhelming, and oftentimes we do nothing because we don’t know where to begin. The oil spill is like that, two million gallons of Corexit, millions of gallons of oil, the wildlife, all the people suddenly robbed of their culture and thrown out of work. Where do … Continue reading From Project Katrina Hope: What You Can Do To Help The Gulf Coast

Drake ToulouseJuly 26, 2010Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Coast Guard, Control the Information, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Oil Spill

Feinberg: The Money isn’t in Escrow Account Yet, plus: How the Reparations Payment Will Work, Problems?

Ken Feinberg said today he hasn’t been able to start writing claims checks because BP PLC has not yet deposited any money into the $20 billion escrow fund it promised to create. “I don’t want the check to bounce,” Feinberg said. BP spokesman Justin Saia said the company’s agreement with the White House is still being finalized. “Funds will be made available immediately upon the … Continue reading Feinberg: The Money isn’t in Escrow Account Yet, plus: How the Reparations Payment Will Work, Problems?

Drake ToulouseJuly 25, 2010July 25, 2010Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Oil Spill, Social Work, Tony Hayward

Some Perspective…BP Set to Announce 5 Billion Dollar Profit in 2nd Quarter

From the Telegraph: This week is likely to see the start of BP’s fightback, beginning with the announcement of $5bn in profits for the second quarter of 2010 and the resignation of Hayward – a symbolic break with the steady drip of bad news that has bombarded the company since April 20. While I do understand the necessity of British Petroleum staying afloat so they … Continue reading Some Perspective…BP Set to Announce 5 Billion Dollar Profit in 2nd Quarter

Drake ToulouseJuly 24, 2010July 25, 20102 Comments

British Petroleum, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Oil Spill

Feinberg says “BP delaying relief payments”

British energy giant BP is holding up payments to economic victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Kenneth Feinberg, administrator of a $20 billion compensation fund, said on Saturday. “I have a concern that BP is stalling claims. Yes, BP is stalling. I doubt they are stalling for money. It’s not that. I just don’t think they know the answers to the questions (by … Continue reading Feinberg says “BP delaying relief payments”

Drake ToulouseJuly 24, 2010July 24, 20102 Comments