Investigator Warned MMS in 2009 About Deepwater Gas Blowouts in Gulf of Mexico

[IScreamSundays]

Source: SolveClimate

A sixty-page memorandum addressed to Renee Orr, the chief of the leasing division of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), was sent in September 2009 by an environmental investigator, warning of potential disaster in offshore drilling operations and the particular dangers posed by gas hydrates.

It was written as a public comment to the federal government's proposed rule for oil and gas leasing between 2010 and 2015 on the outer continental shelf, and offers a wide-ranging compilation and analysis, based on meticulously documented scientific, industry and government sources, of many accidents little known to the general public.

It warns of the potential for catastrophic environmental disaster in an offshore accident, highlighting many of the potential dangers that the Deepwater Horizon explosion has now put on display. It also raises concern about the ongoing and unrecognized release of vast quantities of methane into the atmosphere, a gas 20 times more powerful as a warming agent than CO2.

"The primary cause of blowouts, spills and uncontrolled releases of gases from offshore operations is drilling into methane hydrates, or through them into free gas trapped below," the report warns MMS. It cites much evidence compiled from accident investigations and other documents published by MMS itself, which is the federal agency responsible for assuring safety and environmental protection of offshore drilling operations, as well as leasing rules and royalty payments.

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Read more: http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100524/investigator-warned-mms-2009-about-deepwater-gas-blowouts-gulf-mexico

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. "based on meticulously documented scientific, industry and government sources"

Well, right theres the problem. They should have drawn it out in crayon.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Renee Orr sure sounds like a Republicon - crony of Gale 'Drill Baby' Norton

"But significantly more drilling may be in the works soon. Interior Secretary Gale Norton approved a new five-year plan in July that would allow the Minerals Management Service (MMS) — the Interior Department agency responsible for regulating offshore oil, gas and minerals activities — to sell additional oil and gas leases on the outer continental shelf, which is the federally controlled part of the relatively shallow waters from the coastline to the continent’s edge...

“The five-year program will provide access to significant resources," says Renee Orr, chief of MMS’s leasing division.

http://www.defenders.org/newsroom/defenders_magazine/fall_2002/biodiversity_offshore_oil_peril.php

[snagglepuss]

3. Photos should be circulated of Renee Orr and all the other traitorous

bastards responsible for this devastation. They shouldn't be allowed to hide behind anonymity.

[benld74]

4. THIS IS THE CONTROL OF GOVT BY INDUSTRY,,,,

having the absolute FACTS were poo-pood by the industry and swept away by MMS. The RISK was LARGE BUT HOW could it ever happen, industry said.

WE ALL KNOW THAT STORY ALL TOO WELL NOW DONT WE!


LIARS, USERS, RAPERS, ENVIRONMENTAL TERRORISTS

[benld74]

5. DURING THE TIME OF BUSH Administration touting SCIENCE IS WRONG

[The Straight Story]

6. Now they will call it Obama's 9/11 (ignoring info)

Just wait ;)

[No Elephants]

7. They are calling it"Obama's Katrina. (They think Clinton owns 911.)

[ima_sinnic]

8. who the *&#% cares what "they" "call it"? WHY AREN'T HEADS ROLLING?

--the reason that environmental waivers are granted and permits continue (desptie a "moratorium" by Obama), and that Salazar still has a job, is that the oil companies are calling the shots. Obama is nothing but their figurehead. The environmental rape and destruction will continue unabated, just as soon as this latest "spill" is "contained" by some good PR.

[ima_sinnic]

9. more evidence that Obama is looking the other way with a wink & a nod instead of FIRING people

I'm now totally convinced that he doesn't give a good goddam about the Gulf of Mexico or even the Atlantic Ocean or the entire planet. All he cares about is the inalienable rights of megacorps to do whatever they want--he's bending over backward to stay out of their way.

Appointing Salazar should have been the first clue--which it was to so many--and keeping him on in the face of such blatant corruption is just mind boggling.

Now, apparently, his main concern is whether he can "resume" issuing permits (as though they weren't being issued all along during this catastrophe, only a little more slowly to appear as though "precautions" were being taken or something, I guess)--waiting for a "report" from BP on Thursday before he "makes up his mind."

[Junkdrawer]

10. K&R

[voteearlyvoteoften]

11. rec