BP chose more toxic, less effective oil dispersant manufactured by company with ‘close ties’

[G_j]

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/05/17/bp-dispersant-toxic/

BP chose more toxic, less effective oil dispersant manufactured by company with ‘close ties’ to oil giant.

As BP believes it has finally made progress plugging the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, it has managed to prevent much of the oil already released from washing onshore by using huge quantities of oil dispersants. BP rounded up a “third of the world’s available supply of dispersants” and has been deploying them aggressively. But Greenwire reports that the chemical BP is using is more toxic and perhaps even less effective than other available dispersents:

So far, BP has told federal agencies that it has applied more than 400,000 gallons of a dispersant sold under the trade name Corexit and manufactured by Nalco Co., a company that was once part of Exxon Mobil Corp. and whose current leadership includes executives at both BP and Exxon. And another 805,000 gallons of Corexit are on order, the company said, with the possibility that hundreds of thousands of more gallons may be needed if the well continues spewing oil for weeks or months.

But according to EPA data, Corexit ranks far above dispersants made by competitors in toxicity and far below them in effectiveness in handling southern Louisiana crude.

Of 18 dispersants whose use EPA has approved, 12 were found to be more effective on southern Louisiana crude than Corexit, EPA data show. Two of the 12 were found to be 100 percent effective on Gulf of Mexico crude, while the two Corexit products rated 56 percent and 63 percent effective, respectively. The toxicity of the 12 was shown to be either comparable to the Corexit line or, in some cases, 10 or 20 times less, according to EPA.

BP “shares close ties” with Nalco

...more..

[greencharlie]

1. so typical...

can someone explain WHY BP was tasked with cleaning up the mess?

They did a crap job, took way too much time and it's still gushing even today.

Independent companies should have been hired en masse on day 1 and BP sent the bill.

[liberal N proud]

2. Typical Corporate cronyism

[nashville_brook]

3. someone needs to remove them from the cleanup job -- they're not to be trusted.

we need our own people in there who are actually doing something -- we'll send BP the bill.

[blindpig]

4. Capitalism, making a killing.

k&r

[amborin]

5. and our EPA allowed this

[Greyhound]

6. K&R for the utter predictability.

[G_j]

7. no kidding

when the darkest cynicism is representative of reality.

[bridgit]

8. Nalco is close with all kinds of industry and treatment facilities

Tin foil hatters could conclude that Nalco is the kind of sector that would be able to profit from such a catastrophe as the one in the gulf http://www.nalco.com/industries/energy-oil-gas.htm

[G_j]

9. from a quick glance

it appears they are into water too. I suppose one could wonder if they are following the paths of Haliburton or Bechtel.
It's all about big money anyway.

[G_j]

10. Nalco says sold $40M in dispersants for Gulf spill

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FOSLVO0.htm

Nalco says sold $40M in dispersants for Gulf spill


NEW YORK

Water treatment company Nalco, which makes the chemicals being used to disperse gushing oil in the Gulf of Mexico, said Monday it has done about $40 million in business since the crisis started last month.

Nalco's products are designed to break up the crude oil into small particles that can be digested by ocean bacteria. In addition to skimming and burn efforts, massive amounts of dispersants have been dumped into the ocean to try to slow the oil's movement toward shore and head off major injury to coastal wildlife.

Nalco Holding Co. said requests for dispersants for use in the region will reach about $40 million by the end of this week. That's equal to about 1 percent of the company's expected annual revenue.

..more..

[Echo In Light]

11. K/R

[Karenina]

12. This is so mind-boggling all I can say is

SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE, STOP THEM!!!

[AllentownJake]

13. I state the obvious again

If the company was incompetent enough to cause a disaster, what makes anyone think they should be in charge of cleaning it up.

[lunatica]

14. Avaricious incestuous nepotism, thy name is Corporation