the Legacy of the GUSHER... new fast response agency?

[greencharlie]

Like it or not... offshore drilling isn't going anywhere. No one has the political willpower to stop it. Period.

But at the very least... in the future all oil co's should be taxed to fund a US gov't agency that exists PURELY as a rapid response force for Deep Sea related disasters. They need their own crews, their own engineers and equipment.

[jdlh8894]

1. Taxed by whom?

They are in International Waters.BP is a UK company. We gave them the permits.
Just for giggles,why isn't it called the Gulf of USA?

[DURHAM D]

2. They are in the U.S. Economic Zone. 200 miles.

So we can do what the OP suggests.

[jdlh8894]

3. Agree that they are in the zone

But how do we put a tax on something that has not been produced yet.

[DURHAM D]

5. Many states have a "well-head" tax.

Its really not difficult. Easy to count and qualify.

Perhaps you just don't want to do it...

[jdlh8894]

7. I was under the impression

This well had not been capped. They were trying to, when it blew.

[DURHAM D]

8. Not sure what point you are trying to make.

All existing wells should be taxed.

[jdlh8894]

9. That's my point

It was a drilling site that they were trying to cap when the explosion happened.

[DURHAM D]

10. I give up.

What about this don't you understand.

"Tax all existing wells". Operative word - existing.

[jdlh8894]

11. The well was not producing.

They were capping it and then move the rig away so that a platform could be moved in to get whatever oil/gas could be obtained.

[DURHAM D]

12. so

[jdlh8894]

13. So? How do you tax something that hasn't been produced yet?n/t

[DURHAM D]

14. how old are you?

[jdlh8894]

15. Old enough to know a few things.n/t

[FBI_Un_Sub]

4. NOAA, Coast Guard

have some of the skill set, some of the people, and some of the hardware --- but not enough (they are low budget operations)

[Poll_Blind]

6. Please don't take this as snarky because I really don't mean...

...it that way, but having a rapid response agency for deep-sea disasters is not too far off from having a rapid response agency for space disasters or moon disasters- these are the definition of extreme environments. I'm not really sure what could be done more quickly with an agency of that nature than what is already being done. And when I say that I mean at the deep-sea level.

PB