Was the oil rig in International waters?

[Winterblues]

How is it the US has any say what-so-ever in how they run their operations. When spilled oil reaches US waters then the US should act, but how can we do anything when it isn't in our waters or jurisdiction?

[upi402]

1. Corporate waters n/t

[Sanity Claws]

2. Not international waters

US claims a 200 mile zone.

[Statistical]

3. No.

There are different boundaries for different activities.

For resource gathering (like fishing, oil, etc) the boundary is the EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_Economic_Zone

The EEZ extends 200 miles from the coast of host nation. The well was in US EEZ.

Simply put for the purpose of oil drilling that section of ocean is "owned" by the United States.

[atreides1]

4. No

Exclusive economic zone
An exclusive economic zone extends from the outer limit of the territorial sea to a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the territorial sea baseline, thus it includes the contiguous zone. A coastal nation has control of all economic resources within its exclusive economic zone, including fishing, mining, oil exploration, and any pollution of those resources. However, it cannot prohibit passage or loitering above, on, or under the surface of the sea that is in compliance with the laws and regulations adopted by the coastal State in accordance with the provisions of the UN Convention, within that portion of its exclusive economic zone beyond its territorial sea. Before 1982, coastal nations arbitrarily extended their territorial waters in an effort to control activities which are now regulated by the exclusive economic zone, such as offshore oil exploration or fishing rights. Indeed, the exclusive economic zone is still popularly, though erroneously, called a coastal nation's territorial waters.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Because oil drifts, does it become "international waters"?

[kenfrequed]

6. percisely

If the oil drifts into international waters or into the waters of another nation what happens at that time?

[ellenfl]

7. if they were in international waters, how could the states

sell leases and collect royalties? obviously, we have sovereignty over those waters or louisiana wouldn't be so protective of the rigs and corporations that own them.

ellen fl

[Cleita]

8. Wikipedia has this interesting article about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_waters.

I believe we can claim 200 nautical miles according to this as being under our governance. I'm sure there are international laws out there too that apply.