by Carl Safina
3 Researchers finding plumes, and BP responses J. Gillis, “Plumes of Oil Below Surface Raise New Concerns,” New York Times, June 8, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/us/09spill.html.
4 “Not a river of Hershey’s syrup” “WHOI Scientists Map and Confirm Origin of Large, Underwater Hydrocarbon Plume in Gulf,” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution News Release, August 19, 2010; http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=7545&tid=282&ct=162&cid=79926.
5 “doesn’t hold a candle” R. Kerr, “Report Paints New Picture of Gulf Oil,” Science, August 19, 2010; http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/08/report-paints-new-picture-of-gul.html.
6 NOAA confirmed the presence of undersea oil “NOAA Completes Initial Analysis of Weatherbird II Water Samples,” NOAA, June 8, 2010; http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100608_weatherbird.html.
7 NOAA’s response to undersea plumes, and oil breaking into zillions of droplets S. Begley, “What the Spill Will Kill,” Newsweek, June 6, 2010; http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/06/what-the-spill-will-kill.html.
8 Hayward’s “no evidence,” “These are huge volumes,” and “The bottom line is that yes” J. Resnick-Ault, “Toxic Plumes Lurk Throughout Gulf,” Bloomberg, June 9, 2010; http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-08/toxic-undersea-oil-plumes-lurk-in-gulf-of-mexico-update2-.html.
9 Energy statistics according to BP S. Foley, “World Needs Gulf of Mexico’s Oil, Says BP,” Independent, June 10, 2010; http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/world-needs-gulf-of-mexicos-oil-says-bp-1996097.html.
10 The cap is now collecting 10,000 barrels “No End in Sight; the Gulf Oil Spill,” The Economist, June 12, 2010; http://www.economist.com/node/16322752.
11 Wereley’s estimate of 798,000 to 1.8 million gallons R. Henry et al., “Gulf Oil Leak May Be Bigger Than BP Says,” Associated Press, June 9, 2010; http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/06/08/gulf_oil_spill_bigger.
12 Signs warn M. Nelson, “Florida Posting 1st Signs Warning Swimmers About Oil,” Associated Press, June 9, 2010; http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,594242,00.html.
13 “It’s the breadth and complexity” J. Berger et al., “Dispersal of Oil Means Cleanup to Take Years, Official Says,” New York Times, June 8, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/us/08spill.html.
14 The futility and utility of helping wildlife J. Flesher and Noaki Schwartz, “Rescuing Oiled Birds: Poignant, but Is It Futile?,” Associated Press, June 10, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37627833/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf/.
15 Coated with oil—in Utah “Oil Coats 300 Birds Near Salt Lake After Pipeline Breach,” Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2010; http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/06/oil-coats-300-birds-near-salt-lake-after-pipeline-breach.html.
LATE JUNE
1 Oil executives break ranks with BP J. Broder, “Oil Executives Break Ranks in Testimony,” New York Times, June 15, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/business/16oil.html?ref=politics.
2 BP’s profits, and also estimates about oil P. Nicholas et al., “Stakes Rise for Obama and the Gulf,” Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2010; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/15/nation/la-na-oil-spill-obama-20100615.
3 Blowout dampening appetite for greenhouse gas caps J. Broder, “Oil Spill May Spur Action on Energy, Probably Not on Climate,” New York Times, June 12, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/science/earth/13climate.html.
4 “That’s the $100,000 question,” and Orange Beach’s mayor J. Lebovich et al., “BP Promises Swifter Attack Against Oil Spill,” Miami Herald, June 15, 2010; http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/15/1680757/bp-promises-swifter-attack-against.html.
5 A year after the Exxon Valdez, and, “I still don’t know who’s in charge” C. Robertson, “Efforts to Repel Gulf Spill Are Described as Chaotic,” New York Times, June 15, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/science/earth/15cleanup.html.
6 Senator Bill Nelson, the mayor of Orange Beach D. Brooks, “Trim the ‘Experts,’ Trust the Locals,” New York Times, June 18, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/opinion/18brooks.html.
7 More than 70 human residents E. Schor, “Health Consequences of Oil, Dispersant Chemicals Take Center Stage,” Environment and Energy Daily, June 14, 2010; http://www.eenews.net/eed/2010/06/14.
8 In mid-June, anger mounts “Anger Mounts over Moratorium as Obama Tours Spill Zone,” Agence France-Presse, June 15, 2010; http://www.lankabusinessonline.lk/fullstory.php?nid=1038762547. See also K. Zeitvogel, “Lift ‘Reckless’ Oil Drilling Ban, Gulf Residents Plead,” Agence France-Presse, July 27, 2010; http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g33v9-JoE_SLNstMjQ5AqOy9DGJw.
9 Rigs will seek to drill in other countries T. Zeller Jr., “Drill Ban Means Hard Times for Rig Workers,” New York Times, June 17, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/business/18rig.html.
10 Also in mid-June, President Obama signals E. Werner, “Obama: Gulf to Be ‘Normal,’ ” Associated Press, June 15, 2010; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/14/obama-gulf-coast-visit-th_n_611788.html.
11 “This was some of the best fishing” C. Burdeau and Brian Skoloff, “Oil Spill Spreads in La.’s Big, Rich Barataria Bay,” Associated Press, June 14, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10909228.
12 Based on the latest estimates J. Schwartz, “With Criminal Charges, Costs to BP Could Soar,” New York Times, June 16, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/17liability.html?th&emc=th.
13 The Economist reports “The Oil Well and the Damage Done,” The Economist, June 19, 2010; http://www.economist.com/node/16381032.
14 Congressional Democrats Waxman and Markey “Oil Estimate Raised to 35,000-60,000 Barrels a Day,” CNN, June 15, 2010; http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-15/us/oil.spill.disaster_1_bp-oil-disaster-oil-flow?_s=PM:US.
15 It will turn out that five giant oil companies, and Further, the companies consistently downplay S. Mufson and Juliet Eilperin, “Lawmakers Attack Companies’ Spill Plans,” Washington Post, June 16, 2010; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/AR2010061501700.html.
16 Obama’s first and much-anticipated address from the Oval Office “Obama Warns of Oil Spill ‘Epidemic’ in Oval Office Address,” Agence France-Presse, June 16, 2010; http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1063563/
1/.html.
17 Friedman on Obama and the oil spill T. Friedman, “Obama and the Oil Spill,” New York Times, May 18, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/opinion/19friedman.html.
18 Rachel Maddow’s fake president’s speech “Rachel Maddow Gives Fake Obama Oil Speech, Lunches with Obama,” The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC, June 17, 2010; http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/rachel-maddow-gives-fake-obama.html.
19 Mary L. Kendall J. Calmes and Helene Cooper, “BP Chief to Express Contrition in Remarks to Panel,” New York Times, June 16, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/politics/17obama.html.
20 Blair Witherington K. Murphy, “Death by Fire in the Gulf,” Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2010; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/17/nation/la-na-oil-spill-burnbox-20100617.
21 Workers lighting fires at sea B. Drogin, “Teams Resume Burning Oil in Gulf of Mexico,” Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2010; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/12/nation/la-na-0712-burn-box-20100712.
22 People report seeing sharks, mullet J. Reeves et al., “Sea Creatures Flee Oil Spill, Gather Near Shore,” Associated Press, June 17, 2010; http://www.physorg.com/news195978510.html.
23 BP agrees to pay $20 billion J. Calmes and Helene Cooper, “BP Chief to Express Contrition in Remarks to Panel,” New York Times, June 16, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/us/politics/17obama.html.
24 “mind-bogglingly vapid” “A Bad Day for BP and Mr. Barton,” editorial, New York Times, June 17, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/opinion/18fri3.html.
25 Oil leaked during the hearing D. Barry, “Looking for Answers, Finding One,” New York Times, June 17, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/18land.html?th&emc=th.
26 BP releases $25 million J. Cillis, “New Estimates Raise Amount of Oil Flow,” New York Times, June 15, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/us/16spill.html.
27 BP’s frustration that its acts of goodwill have not been met with goodwill C. Krauss and John M. Broder, “BP Says Limits on Drilling Imperil Spill Payouts,” New York Times, September 2, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/business/03bp.html.
28 The total count of sea turtles “Reporting Oiled Sea Turtles,” press release from Sea Turtle Restoration Network, June 18, 2010; http://www.gctts.org/node/557.
29 “All of these guys could use” “US Lashes Out at BP as Gulf Oil Spill Reaches Two-Month Mark,” Agence France-Presse, June 21, 2010; http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=us-lashes-out-at-bp-as-oil-spill-reaches-two-month-mark-2010-06-21.
30 Things Gulf people are saying K. Murphy, “Oil Spill Stress Begins Taking Its Toll,” Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2010; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/20/nation/la-na-oil-spill-mental-health-20100621.
31 Thad Allen had told ABC News “Allen Has Ordered ‘Uninhibited Access’ to Oil Spill Operations,” ABC News, June 6, 2010; http://bit.ly/9o4Giz.
32 The directive in action M. McClelland, “La. Police Doing BP’s Dirty Work,” Mother Jones, June 22, 2010; http://bit.ly/cFER9Q.
33 Information on Nigeria J. Vidal, “Nigeria’s Agony Dwarfs the Gulf Oil Spill,” Observer, May 30, 2010; http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell.
34 Nigerian fraction of U.S. oil imports “Petroleum,” U.S. Energy Information Administration; http://www.eia.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html.
35 The Economist’s estimates, and John Roberts quote “The Oil Well and the Damage Done,” The Economist, June 19, 2010; http://www.economist.com/node/16381032.
36 Exxon Valdez’s devastating effects A. Symington, “Spill Waters Run Deep,” New Statesman, October 4, 2010; http://www.newstatesman.com/environment/2010/10/oil-spill-liability-gulf.
37 Obama’s May 6 moratorium M. Kunzelman, “Judge Lifts Offshore Drilling Ban as ‘Overbearing,’ ” Associated Press, June 22, 2010; http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/8016622/article-Judge-lifts-offshore-drilling-ban-as-%E2%80%98overbearing%E2%80%99?instance=homesixthleft.
38 Perdido and related quotes J. Mouawad and Barry Meier, “Risk-Taking Rises as Oil Rigs in Gulf Drill Deeper,” New York Times, August 29, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/business/energy-environment/30deep.html.
39 “There is the pre-April 20th framework of regulation and the post-April 20th framework” “What Have They Learned?” editorial, New York Times, October 5, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/opinion/05tue1.html.
40 The better bet R. Huval, “Miami Distributor Turns to Imported Shrimp to Replace Gulf’s,” Miami Herald, June 23, 2010; http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/23/1695008/miami-distributor-turns-to-imported.html.
41 Statistics about oysters “Oil Catastrophe Cracks Gulf of Mexico Oyster Industry,” Associated Press, June 23, 2010.
42 Hurricane Alex strongest since 1966 T. Breen and Jay Reeves, “World’s Largest Oil Skimmer Heads to Gulf Spill,” Associated Press, July 2, 2010; http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/07/02/worlds-largest-oil-skimmer-heads-gulf-spill/.
43 “dumbfounded by the amount of wasted effort” M. Hennessy-Fiske and Richard Fausset, “Mississippi Officials Blast BP, U.S. Government as Oil Hits Coast,” Los Angeles Times, June 29, 2010; http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/29/nation/la-na-oil-spill-20100629.
44 “Seeing everything that you’ve been used to,” and “I haven’t slept” J. McConnaughey and Mitch Stacy, “Gulf Oil Spill’s Psychological Toll Quietly Mounts as Tragedy Drags On,” Ledger (Lakeland, FL), June 27, 2010; http://www.theledger.com/article/20100627/news/6275086.
45 Turtle eggs moved B. Skoloff, “Some 70,000 Turtle Eggs to Be Whisked Far from Oil,” Associated Press, June 30,2010; http://www.physorg.com/news197118448.html.
46 Where oily absorbent materials are going F. Barringer, “As Mess Is Sent to Landfills, Officials Worry About Safety,” New York Times, June 14, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/15/science/earth/15waste.html.
47 Some of the workforce sits idle T. Breen, “Volunteers Ready but Left Out of Oil Spill Cleanup,” Associated Press, July 2, 2010; http://www.njherald.com/story/news/a1237-BC-US-GulfOilSpill-9thLd-Writethru-07-01-1624.
48 “The clean-up effort has not been perfect” “BP Boss Takes Spill Questions in Open Internet Event,” Agence France-Presse, July 1, 2010; http://www.muzi.com/news/ll/english/10101675.shtml?q=&cc=26416&a=on.
49 Appearance of whale sharks B. Raines, “Whale Sharks Unable to Avoid Oil Spill,” Alabama Local News, June 30, 2010; http://blog.al.com/live/2010/06/whale_sharks_unable_to_avoid_o.html. See also J. McConnaughey, “Threatened Whale Sharks Seen in Gulf Oil Spill,” Associated Press, July 1, 2010; http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/threatened-whale-sharks-seen-562061.html.
50 “the worst possible time” for whale sharks B. Handwerk, “Whale Sharks Killed, Displaced by Gulf Oil? The Gulf Oil Spill Occurred in Crucial Habitat for the World’s Largest Fish,” National Geographic News, September 24, 2010; http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100924-whale-sharks-gulf-oil-spill-science-environment/. See also “Whale Shark Tagging in the Gulf of Mexico,” a scene from Mission Blue. Insurgent Media, June 22, 2010; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVd7aRFaDqY.
51 Scientists with the University of Southern Mississippi and Tulane University G. Pender, “Oil Found in Gulf Crabs Raises New Food Chain Fears,” Biloxi Sun Herald, July 1,2010; http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/01/96909/oil-found-in-gulf-crabs-raising.html.
52 Effects of oil on fish eggs and larvae Joanna Burger, Oil Spills. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1997.
53 Herring egg and larval mortality following Exxon Valdez M. D. McGurk and Evelyn D. Brown, “Egg–Larval Mortality of Pacific Herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska, After the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 53, no. 10 (1996): 2343–54. See also B. L. Norcross et al., “Distribution, Abundance, Morphological Condition, and Cytogenetic Abnormalities of Larval Herring in Prince William Sound, Alaska, Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 53, no. 10 (1996): 2376–87. See also J. E. Hose et al., “Sublethal Effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill on Herring Embryos and Larvae: Morphological, Cytogenetic, and Histopathological Assessments, 1989–1991,” Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 53, no. 10 (1996): 2355–65.
54 Different things get hurt at different rates C. H. Peterson et al., “Long-Term Ecosystem Response to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,” Science 302, no. 5653, December 19, 2003: 2082–86.
55 Harlequin Ducks still ingesting Exxon Valdez oil S. Dhillon, “Exxon Oil Showing Up in Alaskan Wildlife 20 years After Spill, Research Shows,” Canadian Press, April 14, 2010.
56 Felony announced for getting near booms C. Kirkham, “Media, Boaters Could Face Criminal Penalties by Entering Oil Cleanup ‘Safety Zone,’ ” Times-Picayune, July 1, 2010; http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/media_boaters_could_face_crimi.html.
57 “Never in my lifetime” G. Nienaber, “Facing the Future as a Media Felon on the Gulf Coast,” Huffington Post, July 3, 2010; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/facing-the-future-as-a-me_b_634661.html.
LIKE A THOUSAND JULYS
1 BP’s dispersant use and cutback E. Lavandera, “Dispersants Flow into Gulf in ‘Science Experiment,’ ” CNN, July 2, 2010; http://articles.cnn.com/2010-07-02/us/gulf.oil.dispersants_1_corexit-dispersant-bp?_s=PM:US.
2 EPA and BP’s tussle over dispersant policy E. Rosenthal, “In Standoff with Environmental Officials, BP Stays with an Oil Spill Dispersant,” New York Times, May 25, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/science/earth/25disperse.html.
3 Corexit 9527 “no longer in use in the Gulf” E. Schor, “EPA Vows to Push Dispersant Makers After Post
ing Corexit Ingredients,” Greenwire, June 10, 2010.
4 Jon Stewart “BP’s Latest Plan Succeeding, but May Make Spill Worse (for Now),” Newsweek, June 2, 2010; http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/02/first-stage-of-new-bp-plan-succeeds-will-mean-more-oil-in-the-short-term.html#.
5 BP decriminalizes free speech J. Reeves, “BP to 40,000 Oil Spill Workers: Talk Away to Media,” Associated Press, July 2, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=11075912.
6 Relief well very high-tech H. Fountain, “Hitting a Tiny Bull’s-Eye Miles Under the Gulf,” New York Times, July 5, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/science/06drill.html.
7 The new cap, relief well schedule, Pensacola tourism, and related quotes F. Tasker, “Officials Offer Glimmer of Hope in Containing Gulf Oil Spill,” Miami Herald, July 2, 2010; http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/02/1712046/rough-seas-still-stymie-oil-spill.html.
8 Hotline operator calls it a diversion Countdown with Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, June 14, 2010.
9 Modern corporations are “soulless” J. Jowit, “ ‘Big Business Needs Biodiversity’ Says UN,” Guardian, July 12, 2010; http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/12/soulless-corporations-hurt-environment-pavan-sukhdev.
10 “Arrogant and in denial,” and the associated BP management and accident history and related quotes S. Lyall, “In BP’s Record, a History of Boldness and Costly Blunders,” New York Times, July 12, 2010.
11 On July 7, the Thadmiral tells America “Crews Connecting Oil Vessel to Ruptured Well as Leaders Pray for Gulf,” AC360 blog, July 7, 2010; http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/07/crews-connecting-oil-vessel-to-ruptured-well-as-leaders-pray-for-gulf/.
12 Two of the judges on the panel, and appeals court affirms lower court J. M. Broder, “Court Rejects Moratorium on Drilling in the Gulf,” New York Times, July 8, 2010; http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/us/09drill.html.
13 “I’m not going to say you can’t drill, but” M. Daly, “New Drilling Chief Promises Balance,” Associated Press, July 12, 2010; http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11141138.
