BP Pledges $500 Million for Independent Research into Impact of Spill on Marine Environment

This press release indicates that research still needs to be done to answer the questions we've all had regarding the effects of oil on a marine environment. BP's dedication of $500 million to research this event is an indication that this truly is research in action and we have no idea what the long-term effects will be.

At least from a scientific perspective the damaging results that BP's research will disclose should be good fodder for future generations.

BP Pledges $500 Million for Independent Research into Impact of Spill on Marine Environment
Release date: 24 May 2010
BP today announced a commitment of up to $500 million to an open research program studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon incident, and its associated response, on the marine and shoreline environment of the Gulf of Mexico.

"BP has made a commitment to doing everything we can to lessen the impact of this tragic incident on the people and environment of the Gulf Coast. We must make every effort to understand that impact. This will be a key part of the process of restoration, and for improving the industry response capability for the future. There is an urgent need to ensure that the scientific community has access to the samples and the raw data it needs to begin this work," said Tony Hayward, BP's chief executive.
The key questions to be addressed by this 10-year research program reflect discussions with the US government and academic scientists in Washington DC last week. BP will fund research to examine topics including:
•Where are the oil, the dispersed oil, and the dispersant going under the action of ocean currents?
•How do oil, the dispersed oil and the dispersant behave on the seabed, in the water column, on the surface, and on the shoreline?
•What are the impacts of the oil, the dispersed oil, and the dispersant on the biota of the seabed, the water column, the surface, and the shoreline?
•How do accidental releases of oil compare to natural seepage from the seabed?
•What is the impact of dispersant on the oil? Does it help or hinder biodegradation?
•How will the oil, the dispersed oil, and the dispersant interact with tropical storms, and will this interaction impact the seabed, the water column and the shoreline?
•What can be done to improve technology:
◦To detect oil, dispersed oil, and dispersant on the seabed, in the water column, and on the surface?
◦For remediating the impact of oil accidently released to the ocean?
BP already has ongoing marine research programs in the Gulf of Mexico. Building on these, BP will appoint an independent advisory panel to construct the long term research program. Where appropriate, the studies may be coordinated with the ongoing natural resources damages assessment. The program will engage some of the best marine biologists and oceanographers in the world. More immediately, a baseline of information for the long term research program is needed. A first grant to Louisiana State University will help kick start this work.

"LSU has a significant amount of experience in dealing with the oil and gas industry and deep knowledge pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico across numerous topical disciplines. The first part of the program is about obtaining and analyzing samples and assessing immediate impacts. Other areas of importance will emerge as researchers become engaged and the potential impacts from the spill are better understood," said Professor Christopher D'Elia, Dean of the School of the Coast and Environment.

Subsequent awards will be controlled by the independent advisory board.
Notes to editors: •BP has been collaborating with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography since 2004 in a program aimed at gaining a better understanding of the environment and hazards in oceans, including marine electromagnetic research. The focus of oceanography efforts has been loop currents in the Gulf of Mexico.
•In 2008, as part of the Deepwater Environmental Long-term Observatory System (DELOS), BP installed the world's first system designed to monitor deep-sea marine life. DELOS is supported by Texas A&M in Galveston, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, University of Aberdeen, National Oceanography Centre in Southampton and the University of Glasgow.
Further information: BP Press Office London +44 20 7496 4076
BP Press office, US: +1 281 366 0265
Unified Command Joint Information Center +1 985 902 5231
www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
www.bp.com/gulfofmexico

EPA: BP MUST USE LESS TOXIC DISPERSANT

CONTACT:


press@epa.gov

202-564-6794



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2010

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a directive requiring BP to identify and use a less toxic and more effective dispersant from the list of EPA authorized dispersants. Dispersants are a chemical used to break up oil into small droplets so that they are more easily degraded.

The directive requires BP to identify a less toxic alternative – to be used both on the surface and under the water at the source of the oil leak – within 24 hours and to begin using the less toxic dispersant within 72 hours of submitting the alternative.

If BP is unable to identify available alternative dispersant products, BP must provide the Coast Guard and EPA with a detailed description of the alternative dispersants investigated, and the reason they believe those products did not meet the required standards.

EPA’s directive to BP can be found here: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants.html

While the dispersant BP has been using is on the agency’s approved list, BP is using this dispersant in unprecedented volumes and, last week, began using it underwater at the source of the leak – a procedure that has never been tried before. Because of its use in unprecedented volumes and because much is unknown about the underwater use of dispersants, EPA wants to ensure BP is using the least toxic product authorized for use. We reserve the right to discontinue the use of this dispersant method if any negative impacts on the environment outweigh the benefits.

On May 15, EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard authorized BP to use dispersants underwater at the source of the Deepwater Horizon leak. As the dispersant is used underwater, BP is required to do constant, scientifically rigorous monitoring so EPA scientists may determine the dispersant’s effectiveness and impact on the environment, water and air quality, and human health. EPA is posting the information BP collects during the monitoring to ensure the public has access to this data.

Dissolved Oxygen and Dispersants in the Gulf

At 20 C (room temperature) and standard atmospheric pressure (sea level), the maximum amount of oxygen that can dissolve in fresh water is 9 parts per million (ppm or mg/L). If the water temperature is below 20 C, there may be more oxygen dissolved in the sample. Generally a dissolved oxygen level of 9-10 ppm is considered very good. At levels of 4 ppm or less, some fish and macroinvertebrate populations (e.g. bass, trout, salmon, mayfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs, caddisfly larvae) will begin to decline. Other organisms are more capable of surviving in water with low dissolved oxygen levels (i.e sludge worms, leeches).

DO Percent Saturation values of 80-120 % are considered to be excellent and values less than 60% or over 125% are considered to be poor.

Low DO levels may be found in areas where organic material (dead plant and animal matter or oil) is decaying. Bacteria require oxygen to decompose organic waste, thus, deplete the water of oxygen. Areas near sewage discharges sometimes have low DO levels due to this effect. DO levels will also be low in warm, slow moving waters.

http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/waterproj/saturation.shtml

Question 1: Read the following statement and assess the normal range of DO for the Gulf of Mexico? Very Good, Good, or Bad

What is dissolved oxygen (DO) and why would dispersant application monitoring be stopped if DO levels dropped?

Dissolved oxygen (DO) analysis measures the amount of gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved in the water. Adequate dissolved oxygen is necessary for good water quality. Normal ranges for DO in the Gulf area are 4 mg/l. The lower the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the greater the stress is on aquatic life. The evaluation criteria to determine further use of subsea dispersant include DO levels that are < 2mg/l and the results of toxicity tests.

http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants.html#q011

Question 2: Which organisms would you most expect to see while snorkeling in the Gulf of Mexico at 2 ppm DO? 4 ppm DO?

Re: "I thought this was a water blog... why do you keep talking about Organic?"

During the "Spring to Sandtrap" expedition last fall, we explored the Sacramento River from its source, all the way to the delta. Aerial views of this region emphasize the obvious importance of agriculture in the delta. In the past, this was one of the best salmon runs on the west coast of North America. Human impact through pollution, industrial fishing, and development practices have left us at a critical point in history to change our ways and help restore this great river.

One main source of contamination is through agricultural runoff in the region and the effects of this runoff would be minimized by adopting irrigation and pesticide application best practices to mitigate river contamination. This also helps farmers keep their costs lower by limiting pesticide costs, with the ideal goal being organic produce.



Organic produce sold locally through farmer's markets is an essential element of a vibrant community with a sustainable future. It ensures a local economy as goods and services are exchanged within the community. The food is healthier for you, it is shipped less distance, so it was riper when it was picked and its carbon footprint is diminished.

Organic produce is not new technology. Organic is not a new craze. It is quite literally as old as dirt. This is the food that evolved alongside the human race. This fantastic evolution of knowledge surrounding food enabled our survival as we picked between one plant or another based upon observation and an oral history passed down through generations. As a species, humans have the broadest variety of organic foods to choose from, as well as the most synthetic and processed ones to discern.

Lately, the game at the super market has been... which one of these soybeans was soaked in hexanes during the manufacturing process? Or does "not treated with the chemical rGBH" really mean "but we soaked it in rGBA!". Organics vs. Natural? What does a GMO monocultured crop label really look like? Food labelling laws allow for "evaporated cane syrup" to be used to disguise "sugar", and "spices" means MSG. Did you know methyl bromide can alkylate DNA, which creates foreign DNA building blocks, so instead of just Adenine-Thymine and Guanine-Cytosine pairs, you end up with a few methylated versions of these throwing a wrench in the cogs of DNA... is it any wonder that cancer is on the rise?

To understand this organic history of the evolution of plant and human within the confines of the natural environment... you first must understand evolution.

Herein lies the problem... 60% of you don't believe in Evolution. Unless you are scientists, then its like 3%, because you understand genetics.  Which isn't that complicated really... there are only 4 basic building blocks for DNA... unless you alkylate them with methyl bromide or other chemicals, then there are unnatural building blocks.  These end up making funny proteins that are deformed and don't work the same as the natural ones, so you get cancer and die.

One does not need to believe in evolution, because it's not a belief, it is an understanding of anthropology, history, and science, as a unifying theory of the development of the universe and earth from the big bang until today. Yes, we share many genetic similarities with apes and we have taught them sign language and communicated with them at a basic level. We eat plant matter that contains very similar molecules and proteins with those in our own bodies.  The world as we know it was made possible by DNA, oxygen, etc... etc... etc... just trust me on this one, its a real well researched theory and while Darwin was incorrect on a few details, we've come along way since then, so read something published in the 21st century.

Meanwhile, while the discussion is going on about the past history of evolution, looking forward into the future allows us to analyze our options now to influence the path of evolution.  This is a powerful position and a terrifying responsibility.  Each year, we apply billions of pounds of pesticides to crops in this country.  These pesticides were produced at a refinery, creating toxic byproducts and chemical pollution every step along the way.  Download TRI.net program to pull the data of your choice regarding corporations and Toxic Releases into your neighborhood.  

Many of these chemical companies have permits for Underground Injection Wells where they "release" their wastewater "under potable water sources" as if there are perfectly safe underground holding tanks impervious to our groundwater supplies.  Especially with Volatile Organic Chemicals that may leach up through the groundwater supply.  Time and time again, these chemicals are found leached into our groundwater supplies due to these practices.  Just search, "Underground Injection" and "EPA" to read more about it.  It only takes one bad corporate citizen to contaminate an entire aquifer with their industrial waste.  This practice of underground injection of waste is short-sighted and should be reconsidered in the interest of public safety.

One way to help as a citizen is choose Organic produce grown locally to encourage a healthy environment and community.  Choose wisely.

Below The Surface on CBS 13 in Sacramento Via Skype!!

Kristian and Jared had the pleasure of testing a new approach to news reporting - skyping with reporters! 

Check out the broadcast at

http://cbs13.com/video/?id=67306@kovr.dayport.com

Sacramento River Outfall Pipes

Rusty discharge on spillway leading directly into the Sacramento River.

Click here for Bing Map of outfall pipe location

Tijuana River Valley, post rain storm

Killing The Water!

Animal waste is polluting our water ways at an alarming rate - so much that our coastal waters are rapidly turning into areas that cannot support life. The map below shows the hypoxic zones around the coastlines of the world in 2006.  This problem has proliferated, there are nearly 400 that have formed around the world, 40 of which surround the US. 

Check out a recent article from the Wall Street Journal focusing in on how the Chesapeak Bay is being impacted by animal waste, and what some people are doing about it.

The Graduate's New Word: Algae

The popular line from The Graduate can usher in the new era now... "One word. Plastics." can now be described as "One word. Algae."
 

Thanks to the rapidly advancing field of Algaculture, the blue-green revolution continues at a hopeful pace.  This is not breaking news, but there are signs that this technology is reaching a practical level faster than expected.  Exxon and General Atomics are investing hundreds of millions of dollars on applied research.  If this doesn't give you hope for the process, than consider the other potential uses of algae as a dietary supplement, water treatment, and other beneficial uses.

Not all algae is created equal though and in many cases, algal blooms have a devastating effect on local ecosystems.  In the Sacramento River, the first 40 miles of river are as pristine as the headwaters at the base of Mt. Shasta.  Once the river dips into agricultural land, the nutrient rich runoff and slower waters are perfect for Algae blooms.  The clarity of the water is drastically reduced and the algae clings to rocks and increases turbidity.  Perhaps this is a contributor to the decline in fish populations, it's not the algae's fault though, they are merely being fed an endless buffet of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizer runoff from one of the greatest Agricultural areas in the United States.

Would it be possible to trap the runoff before it hits the river and allow Algal blooms to be contained in pools and harvested for nutrients and potential biofuel?  Could we improve river water quality by fixing the nitrogen in the Algae before it contaminates the river?  Could farmers utilize this veggie diesel/biofuel to power their tractors, combines, and shakers and reduce their reliance on traditional diesel?  All of this remains to be proven through basic applied research, but from an early stage analysis of the state of the art and the millions of dollars of investment from big oil companies, I believe that the answer is yes.