These are the types of things our Gov't should have been doing from DAY ONE.

[boston bean]

EPA demands less-toxic dispersant


The Environmental Protection Agency informed BP officials late Wednesday that the company has 24 hours to choose a less-toxic form of chemical dispersants to break up its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to government sources familiar with the decision, and must apply the new form of dispersants within 72 hours of submitting the list of alternatives.

The move is significant, because it suggests federal officials are now concerned that the unprecedented use of chemical dispersants could pose a significant threat to the Gulf of Mexico's marine life. BP has been using two forms of dispersants, Corexit 9500A and Corexit 9527A, and so far has applied 600,000 gallons on the surface and 55,000 underwater.

"Dispersants have never been used in this volume before," said an administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision hasn't been formally announced. "This is a large amount of dispersants being used, larger amounts than have ever been used, on a pipe that continues to leak oil and that BP is still trying to cap."

The new policy applies to both surface and undersea application, according to sources, and comes as the EPA has just posted BP's own results from monitoring the effect that underwater application of chemical dispersants has had in terms of toxicity, dissolved oxygen and effectiveness.

http://views.washingtonpost.com/climate-change/post-carbon/2010/05/epa_demands_less_toxic_dispersant.html

Thank you Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.)

And a big pfffftttt to anyone who thinks the Federal Gov't can't do a god damned thing about this without kissing the ring of BP.

[LakeSamish706]

1. And like you said in your first line, they should have been doing these things on day one

not day 30. I just don't know where this Government has been while the worst disaster to face this country was unfolding!

[boston bean]

2. It won't be long now, before all the ones defending this inaction

will praise the action like it's been occuring since day 1.

Unfortunately people like that are a very big problem because they are politically savvy enough to know the political capital that must be spent on this and the fear it could back fire on them outweighs doing the right thing. And Rome burns, eerr the gulf turns into a tar pit.

When they could have all along been pushing for more aggressive Gov't action.

[polichick]

6. Absolutely. nt

[RandomThoughts]

3. LOL, That is funny, but that depends what you think green means.

If they have green in a logo, does that mean they have had green attitudes?

What are their effects, black oil in the environment, profit for a few, and false claims of no culpability to law.

[boston bean]

4. A letter from Ed Markey did this, but atleast the EPA is getting its head out from its ass.

"On Monday, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson questioning the approach, given that Britain banned some formulations of the dispersant Corexit more than a decade ago.

In the letter, Markey warned, "The release of hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemicals into the Gulf of Mexico could be an unprecedented, large and aggressive experiment on our oceans, and requires careful oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other appropriate federal agencies."

The EPA has a list of its approved dispersants on its Web site.
On Thursday, Markey commended the EPA, saying, "The effect of long-term use of dispersants on the marine ecosystem has not been extensively studied, and we need to act with the utmost of caution.""

[Catherina]

5. Thank you Rep Markey . Now for the 2nd part SHUT DOWN BP

and sue the pants off them.

I'm beyond enraged at all the toxins they poured into the gulf.

[QC]

7. Why on earth would anyone unrec this?

Does BP really have so many fans here?