Memory of 1969 disaster colors current oil drilling debate

[babylonsister]

Memory of 1969 disaster colors current oil drilling debate

By Dave Montgomery | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON -- For decades, giant drilling rigs off the Texas and Louisiana coastlines have plumbed the Gulf of Mexico for vast oil and gas riches, creating jobs, bolstering state revenues and perpetuating a vibrant social structure in coastal communities.

To the West, drilling rigs also operate off the Pacific shoreline near Santa Barbara, Calif., but to many residents, they are vile reminders of a 1969 blowout on an offshore rig that spewed a giant oil slick into the Pacific. The ecological disaster contributed to the creation of Earth Day the following year.


Damage from oil spills off the California coast, such as this bird coated in oil from a 1997 pipeline leak off Santa Barbara, is the backdrop for today's offshore oil drilling debate.

"It still has an impact on our consciousness," says Linda Krop, an environmental attorney in Santa Barbara. "You don't see oil on the beach any more but it's very high in people's awareness and their concern about any more development."

The experiences in California and the Gulf Coast states offer contrasting case studies as $4-a-gallon gasoline accelerates calls for vastly expanded offshore drilling to boost U.S. oil and gas supplies. Offshore drilling is currently permitted off four Gulf Coast states, Alaska and a sliver of California but is banned elsewhere in the United States.

President Bush and presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain reopened the national debate over offshore drilling last week by calling on Congress to lift the ban that prohibits new oil and gas production off most of the East and West coasts and a section of the Gulf Coast below Florida.

The proposals generated a fierce push-back from many Democrats and environmental groups, who accused Bush and McCain of being in the pockets of Big Oil.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/41816.html

[liberal N proud]

1. The oil companies just want the oil

They could care less about the impact on the environment or anything else.

All I know was the last time I went to one of the beaches in LA area, we left the beach that day with tar on our feet.

[dipsydoodle]

2. And don't overlook the fact it could be far worse

if they even considered mining methane hydrates offshore.

Huge methane hydrate deposits exists on the ocean floors primarily around continental shelf drop offs. They are larger by far than the known oil and gas reserves. Some countries have or are considering mining these deposits. But it is extremely dangerous because mining activity may destabilize the continental shelves and release large quantities of bubbles of methane gas.

More importantly, as the earth's temperature increases these deposits can potentially release large quantities of methane gas into the atmosphere. The greatest consequence is the snowball effect this stuff may have on global warming. Because once methane gas is released into the atmosphere, it will contribute to the greenhouse effect.

http://atah.net/Creation/methane_hydrate.htm

I recall someone was looking at doing this off the coast of North Carolina.

[babylonsister]

3. I was going to say, don't give anyone any ideas, but I see they

already have them. Profit rules, screw the environment or what kind of world we leave to our children, if there's one to leave.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Here's the other link for you

http://marine.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/gas-hydrates/title.html

I found that a few years ago - note that its dated 1992 so goodness only knows what's occured in the meanwhile. Perish the thought of a continental shelf being destabilized.

It's ok - I'm very careful what I post for fear of giving others ideas.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. The GOP's Great Aryan Hope (Schwarzenegger) has proposed...

...LNG crap off the coast.

Basically everyone has laughed at him about it due to his obvious ties to Australian corporations that deal in LNG.

But there are more than enough GOPhers creating just enough doubt to keep people confused.