Oil Less Than 10 Miles From Escambia, Closing In

June 2, 2010

An oil sheen was spotted Tuesday less than 10 miles from Escambia County; a reddish brown oil began washing up on Dauphin Alabama; the federal government announced a criminal probe of BP; and the latest oil spill trajectory map from NOAA shows oil on the shores of Alabama and Northwest Florida by Friday.

Escambia County officials reported Tuesday that sections of the oil sheen had been spotted 9.5 miles from the county’s coastline. Regular reconnaissance flights are being conducted daily to monitor Florida’s shoreline for impact. For the latest information specific to Escambia County, click here.

Authorities on Dauphin Island, Alabama, reported reddish brown, weather oiled washing up on the island. The Alabama Department of Public Health posting warnings telling beachgoers to stay out of the water, and all Alabama Gulf Waters were closed to fishing.

The latest 72-hour forecast shows the oil slick headed toward the mouth of Mobile Bay and the oil approaching the coast of Escambia County, Florida, at the state line.

For live video of the oil spill from NorthEscambia.com, click here.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Erick Holder announced a civil and criminal probe into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.

“We will closely examine the actions of those involved in this spill. If we find evidence of illegal behavior, we will be forceful in our response. We have already instructed all relevant parties to preserve any documents that may shed light on the facts surrounding this disaster,” Holder said Tuesday. “As our review expands in the days ahead, we will be meticulous, we will be comprehensive, and we will be aggressive. We will not rest until justice is done.”

Holder said that while the federal government continues to focus on stopping the leak and responding to the environmental disaster, the Department of Justice will work to make sure that the American people do not foot the bill for the disaster.

“We will ensure that every cent of taxpayer money will be repaid and damages to the environment and wildlife will be reimbursed. We will make certain that those responsible clean up the mess they have made and restore or replace the natural resources lost or injured in this tragedy. And we will prosecute to the full extent any violations of the law,” Holder said.

Comments

9 Responses to “Oil Less Than 10 Miles From Escambia, Closing In”

  1. David Huie Green on June 2nd, 2010 9:28 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Make all the drilling supporters go clean it up”

    Don’t you wish you COULD? Just think, say 19,000 barrels of crude per day at the rate of $75 per barrel, over $1.4 million dollars per day going into nuisance rather than wealth.

    I am beginning to think we need to update our oil spill containment procedures and equipment.

    just beginning, mind you

  2. huh on June 2nd, 2010 7:53 pm

    Make all the drilling supporters go clean it up

  3. David Huie Green on June 2nd, 2010 5:59 pm

    1) Dispersants – Actually, some was dispersed or the slick would be worse. Probably rough on life below the surface but no pretty pictures of them being harmed so that is the procedure

    2) Skimming – Actually, some was skimmed or the slick would be worse. It would have made sense to have enough to skim all, but nobody seemed to think that made sense.

    3) Burning – Actually, some was burned or the slick would be worse. Burn too close to the containment booms, though, and you burn them up. Good planning!

    4) Big Containment Dome – Failed, true. They needed more ballast and bigger flow lines and all flow into that one dome not scattered over 5000′

    5) Small Top Hat Dome – Failed, less of the original failure, I never saw the wisdom of that approach.

    6) Small Suction Pipe –Actually, some was sucked or the slick would be worse, just not enough (enough being defined as ALL)

    7) Top Kill – Failed, as it should have, it was a stupid idea born of desperation

    8) Junk Shot – Failed, also a stupid idea. They probably did it to satisfy the folks who demand you DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW even if you know it won’t work. The relief well WILL work if they can drill back into the original hole deep enough, but it takes time and people want to actually see you doing something even if it is stupid.

    9) Cut and Cap – Saw is stuck – Probable Failure I’m still thinking they should have used shaped charges to do the cutting, but don’t know enough to be sure.

    10) ??? President Obama’s got the smartest minds and movie makers on Earth working on other ideas. (proof is that they didn’t invite me)

    Remember, if all fails every reservoir has a finite supply so it will stop even if the government decides to halt drilling before they get there. We might be three feet deep in asphalt by then, but it will eventually run out.

    David looking at bright side of life

  4. David Huie Green on June 2nd, 2010 5:46 pm

    I keep reading that things were done which are not the proper way to do them.

    The reporters may be off, though, since many don’t know what is being discussed, the chemistry of it, the mechanics of it, the conditions involved.

    Some bad decisions were obviously made. One of them was to reduce mudweight without a known working set of blowout preventers and careful monitoring of returns. And yes, a few of the people involved in carrying out those instructions were killed in the event.

    If somebody tells you to shoot yourself in the head and you do it, surely you share SOME of the blame for what happens.

    Look at it this way: Paved access to the beach! all the way out to the water and beyond.

    David considering the wisdom of
    NO, I WON’T in some cases

  5. whitepunknotondope on June 2nd, 2010 12:08 pm

    “May God forgive you for your rash judgments and ignorance. Spend some time on the computer and educate yourself about a problem before you make some working guy a scapegoat for BP and the US Government.”

    I don’t need God’s forgiveness OR yours. And for your information I AM educated about the problem and it WAS a “working guy” who circumvented protocol prior to that explosion. If anyone is ignorant and stupid, it’s you.

  6. Wendy on June 2nd, 2010 11:27 am

    1) Dispersants – Failed
    2) Skimming – Failed
    3) Burning – Failed
    4) Big Containment Dome – Failed
    5) Small Top Hat Dome – Failed
    6) Small Suction Pipe – Failed
    7) Top Kill – Failed
    8) Junk Shot – Failed
    9) Cut and Cap – Saw is stuck – Probable Failure
    10) ???

  7. mph on June 2nd, 2010 9:09 am

    Ignorance and stupidity abounds. Shame on all who blame this on a dead man. BP has a history of “short cuts” – Their CEO from England just “Wants his life back.” Also Minerals Management people were watching porn on thieri government computers when they were supposed to be inspecting the rigs and looking after our best interests. Well, i and others want our lives back too, But that’s not going to happen any time soon. May God forgive you for your rash judgments and ignorance. Spend some time on the computer and educate yourself about a problem before you make some working guy a scapegoat for BP and the US Government. My family also knows a bit about the oil industry – the men are either in the Service of our County or work off-shore – and from the stories I hear safety has always been an issue in the Gulf.

  8. la redneck on June 2nd, 2010 8:07 am

    I’m sure it was negligence on the part of the deceased. As an ex oilfeild trash, i know that BP did and does all that needs doing for safety and enviromental concerns. there is no way that BP would take shortcuts or dodge inspections. Also It’s a good bet that no bribes were taken to stall or look the other way while problems were covered up or ignored. I mean , we all know BP had and has the publics best interest at heart! Then and now….

  9. whitepunknotondope on June 2nd, 2010 7:09 am

    “If we find evidence of illegal behavior, we will be forceful in our response.”

    Unfortunately the person or persons who are probably responsible for this catastrophe are dead. I’ve already read an account that indicates negligence on the part of one or more of the deceased workers.