by Carl Safina
5 Plume science compared to Ixtoc oil P. D. Boehm and Davld L. Flest, “Subsurface Distributions of Petroleum from an Offshore Well Blowout; The Ixtoc I Blowout, Bay of Campeche,” Environmental Science and Technology 16, no, 2 (1982): 67–74.
6 “The answer is no to that” Justin Gillis, “Giant Plumes of Oil Forming Under the Gulf,” New York Times, May 15, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/us/16oil.html.
7 Penalties under the Clean Water Act “The Oil Well and the Damage Done,” The Economist, June 19, 2010; http://www.economist.com/node/16381032.
8 “It appears that the application of the subsea dispersant” Justin Gillis, “Giant Plumes of Oil Forming Under the Gulf,” New York Times, May 15, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/us/16oil.html.
9 Dispersant making oil available to fish M. Brown and Jason Dearen, “New, Giant Sea Oil Plume Seen in Gulf,” Associated Press, May 27, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37384717/ns/gulf_oil_spill.
10 Quotes by Shaw, Joye, Overton, and Twilley “Debates Rage over Impact of Oil Dispersants in Gulf,” Hindustan Times, July 12, 2010; http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report_debates-rage-over-impact-of-oil-dispersants-in-gulf_1408787.
11 The mix is more toxic M. J. Hemmer et al., “Comparative Toxicity of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil (LSC) and Chemically Dispersed LSC to Two Gulf of Mexico Aquatic Test Species,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, July 31, 2010; http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/reports/phase2dispersant-toxtest.pdf.
12 Bluefin tuna “USM Scientists Head Out for Bluefin Tuna Larvae,” Associated Press, May 17, 2010; http://www.bettermsreport.com/2010/05/ap-scientists-from-usm-seek-tuna-larvae.
13 Native Americans C. Burdeau, “Spill Reinforces Oil Bad Will for American Indians,” Associated Press, May 18, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=10673076.
14 “We never said it produced 5,000” M. Winter, “Oil Update: Spill to Harm Europe, Arctic Wildlife; Hurricane Season Looms,” USA Today, May 21, 2010; http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/oil-update-spill-to-harm-europe-arctic-wildlife-hurricane-season-looms/1.
15 “We cannot trust BP,” and “I don’t see any possibility,” and “it might be a little more,” and “an absurd position” “BP Accused of Cover-up as Size of Slick Remains Unknown,” Agence France-Presse, May 20, 2010; http://www.terradaily.com/reports/BP_accused_of_cover-up_as_size_of_slick_remains_unknown_999.html.
16 “They want to hide the body” J. Gillis, “Scientists Fault Lack of Studies over Gulf Spill,” New York Times, May 20, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/science/earth/20noaa.html.
17 Interview with Admiral Thad Allen C. Crowley, interview with Thad Allen, CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley, May 23, 2010; http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1005/23/sotu.01.html.
18 Brown and orange globs K. McGill and Vicki Smith, “A Month in, Outrage over Gulf Oil Spill Grows,” Associated Press, May 21, 2010; http://blog.al.com/live/2010/05/a_month_in_outrage_over_gulf_o.html.
19 Billy Nungesser, and the Louisiana governor, and his statistics, also EPA’s deadline “Louisiana Marshes Hit by Gulf Oil Slick,” Agence France-Presse, May 21, 2010; http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/
1058133/1/.html.
20 “This is not sheen” J. C. McKinley and Campbell Robertson, “Oil Is Fouling Wetlands, Official Says,” New York Times, May 20, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/us/20spill.html.
21 Dead zone C. Burdeau, “Dead Zone in the Gulf One of the Largest Ever,” Associated Press, August 2, 2010; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/02/tech/main6736957.shtml.
22 Nancy Rabalais quoted C. Burdeau and Seth Borenstein, “Scientists Think Gulf Can Recover,” Associated Press, August 6, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38582049/ns/us_news-environment/
23 Requirements to submit plans, and a “culture of substance abuse and promiscuity M. Kunzelman and Richard T. Pienciak, “Rule Change Helped BP on Gulf Project,” Associated Press, May 6, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10568369.
24 Salazar dividing the Minerals Management Service J. C. McKinley and Campbell Robertson, “Oil Is Fouling Wetlands, Official Says,” New York Times, May 20, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/us/20spill.html. See also M. Daly, “Minerals Management Service to Be Divided into 3 Parts,” Associated Press, May 19, 2010; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/19/minerals-management-servi_o_n_582248.html.
25 “It took hundreds of years” J. Dearen, “Month into Gulf Spill, Fishermen See Bleak Future,” Associated Press, May 21, 2010; http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/05/21/month_into
_gulf_spill_fishermen_see_bleak_future.
26 Meanwhile, President Obama announces B. Walsh, “Obama to Tighten Fuel Economy Etandards,” Time, May 19, 2010; http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1899534,00.html.
27 “All systems are go” C. Robertson, “Despite Leak, Louisiana Is Still Devoted to Oil,” New York Times, May 22, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/us/23drill.html.
28 A house divided and related quotes I. Urbina, “Despite Moratorium, Drilling Projects Move Ahead,” New York Times, May 23, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/us/24moratorium.html. See also P. Eckert, “Fishery Disaster Declared in Three Gulf States; U.S. Officials Vow to Impose Fines on Energy Giant,” Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2010; Via Reuters; http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64N5TT20100524 . See also “BP and the Damage Done,” energyboom.com, May 29, 2010; http://www.energyboom.com/policy/bp-and-damage-done.
29 The president will say he regrets T. Raum and Jennifer Loven, “Fixing Oil Spill My Responsibility, Obama Says,” Associated Press, May 28, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10766709.
30 Shaw on Corexit 9527 E. Dugan, “Oil Spill Creates Huge Undersea ‘Dead Zones,’ ” Independent, May 30, 2010; http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/oil-spill-creates-huge-undersea-dead-zones-1987039.html.
31 BP’s close ties to Corexit’s manufacturer “Corexit,” SourceWatch, August 7, 2010; http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Corexit.
32 Dr. Shaw writes S. Shaw, “Swimming Through the Spill,” New York Times, May 28, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/opinion/30shaw.html.
33 Corexit and illness “Corexit,” SourceWatch, August 7, 2010; http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Corexit.
34 Butoxyethanol in Corexit K. Zeitvogel, “Dispersants: Lesser Evil Against Oil Spill or Gulf Poison?” Agence France-Presse, June 7, 2010; http://www.physorg.com/news195106476.html.
35 Sarah Palin says Obama’s too slow G. Bluestein and Matt Brown, “Heat on White House to Do More About Gulf Spill,” Associated Press, May 25, 2010; http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/25/heat-white-house-gulf-spill/
36 The BP response plan “Did Anyone Actually Read BP’s Oil Spill Response Plan?,” Targeted News Service, May 25, 2010; http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/05/25-0
37 Fishermen saying they’re getting sick, EPA air monitoring, and related quotes N. Santa Cruz and Julie Cart, “Oil Cleanup Workers Cite Illness,” Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2010; http://www.sott.net/articles/show/209299-Gulf-oil-spill-Cleanup-workers-report-illness.
38 Doug Suttles’s “doing everything we can” and Thad Allen’s “no news is good” B. Nuckols and G. Bluestein, “Gulf Awaits Word on Latest Bid to Plug Oil Leak,” Associated Press, May 27, 2010; http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/05/27/business/
doc4bfe3b8e0c221649103327.txt.
39 “I wouldn’t say it’s failed yet,” and “They’re actually going to take” “Disaster of a New Dimension Looms in Gulf of Mexico Spill,” Agence France-Presse, May 9, 2010; http://www.grist.org/article/2010-05-09-disaster-of-a-new-dimension-looms-in-gulf-of-mexico-spill.
40 “This is the first time the industry” J. C. McKinley Jr. and Leslie Kaufman. “New Ways to Drill, Old Methods for Cleanup,” New York Times, May 10, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/us/11prepare.html?_r=2.
41 $930M and 26,000 people, Hayward quotes J. Resnick-Ault, “BP Uses ‘Junk Shot,’ Calls Oil Spill a ‘Catastrophe,’ ” Bloomberg, May 28, 2010; http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-28/bp-uses-junk-shot-to-plug-well-that-s-spilled-more-oil-than-exxon-valdez.html.
42 Hayward’s “tiny” in a “very big ocean” T. Webb, “BP Boss Admits Job on the Line over Gulf Oil Spill,” Guardian, May 14, 2010; http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/may/13/bp-boss-admits-mistakes-gulf-oil-spill.
43 Discovery of plume by Weatherbird II M. Brown and J. Dearen, “New, Giant Sea Oil Plume Seen in Gulf,” Associated Press, May 27, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37384717/ns/gulf_oil_spill/.
44 “This is when all the animals” E. Dugan, “Oil Spill Creates Huge Undersea ‘Dead Zones,’ ” Independent, May 30, 2010; http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/oil-spill-creates-huge-undersea-dead-zones-1987039.html.
45 Oil leaked totals between 18 and 39 million gallons T. Raum and Jennifer Loven, “Fixing Oil Spill My Responsibility, Obama Says,” Associated Press, May 28, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10766709.
46 Obama suspends exploratory drilling in the Arctic M. Daly, “Salazar Delays Arctic Ocean Drilling,” Associated Press, May 27, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10755614.
47 “This event was set in motion years ago” R. Simon, “Gulf Oil Spill: Companies Were ‘Rushing to Make Money Faster,’ Survivor Says,” Los Angeles Times, May 27, 2010; http://latimesblogs.latimes.eom/greenspace/2010/05/gulf-oil-spill-companies-were-rushing-to-make-money-faster-survivor-says.html.
48 Workers taken ill and arguments over what their problems are E. Cohen, “Fisherman Files Restraining Order Against BP,” CNN, May 31, 2010; http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-31/health/oil.spill.order_1_bp-oil-rig-oil-spill?_s=PM:HEALTH.
49 A fisherman’s wife, and BP spokesman comment that air monitoring shows no health threats E. Cohen, “Fisherman’s Wife Breaks the Silence,” CNN, June 3, 2010; http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-03/health/gulf.fishermans.wife_1_shrimping-exxon-valdez-oil-spill-cell-phone?_s=PM:HEALTH.
50 “It’s hard to understand if nausea” F. Tasker and Laura Figueroa, “How Dangerous Is Oil to Human Health?,” St. Petersburg Times, June 27, 2010.
51 There’s another reason workers aren’t using respirators Elana Schor, “OSHA Chief to Face Hot Seat over Cleanup-Worker Health,” Environment and Energy Daily, June 21, 2010.
52 Who else can’t breathe? “Dauphin Island Sea Lab Scientists Report Drop in Oxygen on Alabama Shelf,” June 9, 2010; http://press.disl.org/6_9_10oxygenBP.htm.
53 A federal panel of fifty experts N. Schwartz, “Panel Recommends Continued Use of Oil Dispersant,” Associated Press, June 5, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10828517.
54 If we don’t get as clean a cut” “Gulf Oil Closes in on Florida, Containment Efforts Hit Snag,” Agence France-Presse, June 3, 2010; http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/Gulf-oil-closes-in-on-Florida-containment-efforts-hit-snag/articleshow/6007598.cms.
55 “Engineer’s nightmare,” and a tiny cap on a fire hydrant G. Bluestein and B. Skoloff, “Oil Closes in on Fla. as BP Tries Risky Cap Move,” Associated Press, June 2, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10802853.
56 Congress has certainly played a role, and Congress approved budgets reducing regulatory staff, and a 2004 Coast Guard study warned D. S. Abraham, “A Disaster Congress Voted For,” New York Times, July 13, 2010, p. A27.
57 Other nations charge more J. Wardell and Robert Barr, “BP Not Spearheading Oil Industry Move Back in Gulf,” Associated Press, November 2, 2010.
58 It was actually the Vice President’s National Energy Policy Development Group, Reliable, Affordable, and Environmentally Sound Energy for America’s Future: National Energy Policy Report. Washington: GPO, 2001.
59 Congress approved budgets reducing regulatory staff, and a 2004 Coast Guard study warned D. S. Abraham, “A Disaster Congress Voted For,” New York Times, July 13, 2010, p. A27.
EARLY JUNE
1 Dead dolphin, surreptitious tour, and news crews escorted from public places M. Lysiak and Helen Kennedy, “The Hidden Death in the Gulf,” Daily News, June 2, 2010; http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/06/
02/2010-06-02_the_hidden_death_in_the_gulf.html.
2 BP tries again to cover the leak C. Krauss, “BP Tries Again to Divert Oil Leak with Dome,” New York Times, May 31, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/us/01spill.html?th&emc=th.
3 Allen’s garden hose analogy H. Mohr and John Flesher, “Gulf Containment Cap Closely Watched in 2nd Day,” Associated Press, June 7, 2010; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/06/national/
main6553587.shtml.
4 “A positive step but not a solution” G. Bluestein, “Cap Placed atop Gulf Well; Oil Still Spewing,” Associated Press, June 4, 2010; http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/
2012017723_apusgulfoilspill.html.
5 “The probability of them hitting it” M. Brown, “Relief for Gulf Is 2 Months Away with Another Well,” Associated Press, June 1, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10786704.
6 BP shares lose, and Justice Department investigations B. Winter and Kevin Johnson, “Justice Department to Launch Oil Probe,” USA Today, June 2, 2010; http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-01-criminal-probe-of-oil-spill_N.htm.
7 “The majority, probably the vast majority,” and “I don’t see that as being a credible,” and “They continue to optimize production” “Scientists Challenge BP Containment Claims,” MSNBC, June 9, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37573643/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf.
8 “could take leakage almost down to zero,” and “I’m not going to declare victory” “US Sets Deadline for BP as Mistrust Grows,” Agence France-Presse, June 10, 2010; http://dalje.com/en-world/us-sets-deadline-for-bp-as-mistrust-grows/308972.
9 BP shares hemorrhage an incredible 16 percent F. Ahrens, “BP Stock Crashes; Oil Giant Trading Below Book Value,” Washington Post, June 9, 2010; http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2010/06/bp_shares_crash_oil_giant_trad.html.
10 Estimate of the leak gets doubled “US Doubles Gulf Oil Flow Estimate,” Agence France-Presse, June 11, 2010; http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=115861#axzz16gupLzQJ.
11 “Still dealing with the flow estimate” S. Borenstein and Harry R. Weber, “New Oil Numbers May Do More Harm to Fish, Wildlife,” Associated Press, June 11, 2010; http://www.fox8live.com/news/local/story/New-oil-numbers-may-do-more-harm-to-fish-wildlife/56mU8Qat2kCx5d5H_7-hSA.cspx.
12 BP is the third-largest oil company S. L. Yall and Julie Werdigier, “U.S. Fury at BP Stirs Backlash Among British,” New York Times, June 10, 2010; http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/u-s-fury-at-bp-stirs-backlash-among-british/.
13 “I’ve had guys saying” B. Anderson, “Nationally, Chefs Stand by Gulf Seafood, but Customers Are Turning Their Backs,” Times-Picayune, June 20, 2010; http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssfp/base/news-14/1277020369237720.xml&coll=1.
14 “Thank God there isn’t a loaded gun” S. Saulny, “Cajuns on Gulf Worry They May Need to Move On Once Again,” New York Times, July 19, 2010; http://bbedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100719/NEWS0107/7190374/1159&template=print.
15 Gulf Shores, Alabama H. Mohr and John Flesher, “Gulf Containment Cap Closely Watched in 2nd Day,” Associated Press, June 7, 2010; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/06/national/
main6553587.shtml.
16 Dozens of oil-drenched pelicans “Dozens of Heavily Oiled Pelicans off La. Coast,” Associated Press, June 3, 2010; http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/gulf_oil_spill/heavily-oiled-pelicans-off-la-coast.
17 Birds and mammals rescued “25 Live Sea Turtles Rescued, at Least 12 Oiled,” Associated Press, June 2, 2010; http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/environment/25_live_sea_turtles
_rescued_at_least_12_oiled_95493
429.html.
18 “This is the worst screwed-up response,” and quotes by frustrated bird rescuers C. Pittman, “BirdExpertsLeft Waitingin Wings,” St. PetersburgTimes, September 5, 2010; http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=
100020423&docId=l:1256619892&start=7.
19 A blowout in Pennsylvania M. Levy and Jennifer C. Yates, “Marcellus Gas Well Blows Out in Pennsylvania; Gas, Drilling Fluid Shoot 75 Feet into Air,” Associated Press, June 4, 2010; http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100604/NEWS01/6040353/
Marcellus-gas-well-blows-out-in-Pennsylvania-gas-drilling-fluid-shoot-75-feet-into-air.
20 “This spill is just aggregated over a 200-mile radius” “US Oil Spill Spread Around 200-mile Radius,” Agence France-Presse, June 6, 2010; http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/us-oil-spill-spread-around-200-mile-radius-official/story-e6frf7jx-1225876240262.
21 BP tells residents in a church G. Bluestein, “Cap Placed atop Gulf Well; Oil Still Spewing,” Associated Press, June 2010; http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/
2012017723_apusgulfoilspill.html.
22 Seventy-one people suffer “Gulf Oil Spill Sickens More Than 70 People in Louisiana,” Agence France-Presse, June 9, 2010; http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Gulf_oil_spill_sickens_more_than
_70_people_in_Louisiana_999.html.
23 Department of Health counsels 749 people, and related quotes M. Navarro, “Spill Takes Toll on Gulf Workers’ Psyches,” New York Times, June 16, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/17human.html?th&emc=th.
HIGH JUNE
1 BP good at stopping the flow of news J. Peters, “Efforts to Limit the Flow of Spill News,” New York Times, June 9, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/us/10access.html?th&emc=th.
2 Using 5,800 separate measurements R. Camilli et al., “Tracking Hydrocarbon Plume Transport and Biodegradation at Deepwater Horizon,” Science 330, no. 6001, August 19, 2010: 201–4; http://www.sciencemag.org/content/330/6001/201.short.
