For Those Interested in FACTS, The Admin Response has Recovered 10 million gallons of oily water

[berni_mccoy]

And that's not all...

Every day, the Administration is doing something in response to the BP Oil Disaster, and they are providing an update nearly every day of what is going on. But you won't hear it reported in the MSM, and sadly it isn't being talked about here.

For those interested in the facts, you can see what's been going on in this timeline summary of the response: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/05/ongoing-administration-wide-response-deepwater-bp-oil-spill

The latest update:

Total response vessels: more than 1150
Containment boom deployed: more than 1.73 million feet
Containment boom available: more than 275,000 feet
Sorbent boom deployed: more than 730,000 feet
Sorbent boom available: more than 1.25 million feet
Total boom deployed: more than 2.46 million feet (regular plus sorbent boom)
Total boom available: more than 1.52 million feet (regular plus sorbent boom)
Oily water recovered: more than 10.24 million gallons
Surface dispersant used: approximately 685,000 gallons
Subsea dispersant used: approximately 100,000
Total dispersant used: approximately 785,000
Dispersant available: more than 340,000 gallons
Overall personnel responding: more than 22,000

Furthermore, the Admin has overseen that BP has paid out more than $27 million in damage claims. No claims have been denied so far and assessors have been deployed to the region.

I'm tired of hearing on this site how the Admin is doing nothing in response. The fact is they are, and they are doing quite a bit. They aren't just sitting around waiting for BP to stop the oil gushing out. They are actively cleaning it up now and working with BP on solutions to stop it while holding BP accountable for damages and the cost of the cleanup.

[NJmaverick]

1. K & R! because FACTS matter

[Winterblues]

38. What facts?

The fact that everything listed was done by BP and not the Administration? How many of those ships did the Administration hire, or how many booms did the Administration put into place? All it appears they have done is list the acomplishments of BP.

[NJmaverick]

72. Oddly enough you were wrong in the one "fact" you added to the discussion

"EVERYTHING listed was done by BP" is simply incorrect.

[Winterblues]

76. Well you know "Facts Matter"

This was about everything the Administration has done and yet I failed to find a single thing in that list that was accomplished by the Administration. While it might be that every single thing was not accomplished by BP, it certainly is a fact that every single thing listed was Not accomplished by the Administration which the OP stated.

[nadinbrzezinski]

85. You do know that they are working under the umbrella

of the Incident Command system, and that Incident Commander is one Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen...

Oh never mind, I will move on now.

[Oceansaway]

2. K&R...n/t

[jaxx]

3. K & R and thanks for the update.

[sharp_stick]

4. How dare you post facts

when I want to see hyperbole and conspiracy theories fit my strange view of them?

K&R because we need to know the facts.

[cliffordu]

5. Goddammit, Berni....AGAIN with the FACTS???

How many times have I told you that you inhibit teh stoopid when you do that???

Some people never learn.

[berni_mccoy]

6. LOLOMG clifford

You made me spit coffee.

:spray: :hi:

[cliffordu]

12. Yep - that's me, always doing my part.....

:rofl:

:hi:

[MyNameGoesHere]

Wonderful

that means NOAA estimate is wrong, their estimate is 210000 gals a day, which means that only 6.6 millions so far. That can't be right. BP's worst case scenario is 2.5 million a day for about 87 million leaked so far. So being reasonable let me calculate for 700000 gals a day.... about 24 million gals.. WHOOHOOO we are getting half the oil leaked..

Wait I have to tell my boss I am only going to be 50 % efficient from now on. Oh shit he fired me.

[SidDithers]

15. Oily water != oil...nt

Sid

[MyNameGoesHere]

20. I have no idea

how to convert oily water into actual recovered oil. But I bet all the scientist, engineers, and foreign assets that are part of the crisis committee that was set up know how to do it. I wonder if they have a web page for this crisis committee that was setup.

[SidDithers]

40. Short of testing it, there's no easy way to know how much oil...

is in the oily water. Could be 50%, could be 5%.

That's all I'm saying. The amount of oily water collected doesn't really shed any light on how much oil has been released.

Sid

[mkultra]

108. Oily water -> Oil + Water

[FSogol]

7. K & R. n/t

[lunatica]

8. Facts are A Big Fucking Deal

I'm very glad to know this. It's hard to just be hearing crazed hyperbole all the time.

kicked and rec'd

[mzteris]

49. Crazed hyperbole

is making ME crazed.

"Some people" think that I "don't care" about the Gulf. That I'm an Obama apologist - or worse - a BP one...

the FACT of the matter is, it's the "crazed hyperbole" that - uh - inspires - my postings.

I like FACTS. FACTS are good.

[meow mix]

9. most of the vessel are fishing boats rigged with booms, for show

they need our tankers out there sucking it up.. not this playacting stuff.

[KittyWampus]

10. AND we have a winner! First oblivious response wins the "Golden Ostrich".

[sharp_stick]

13. Yeah those mysterious

hidden tankers that are being held in reserve for some nefarious purpose. Tankers are not equipped to suck up oil they are simply big empty shells designed to move the stuff from point A to point B.

[meow mix]

14. yeah, sucking technology is well beyond human advances

wth

[Webster Green]

16. What about these ones?

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/gulf-oil-spill-supertankers-051310#ixzz0nyRlJjLv

[meow mix]

19. "former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister"

they should bring this guy in.. thanks for the link

former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister, the untapped solution involves using empty supertankers to suck the spill off the surface, treat and discharge the contaminated water, and either salvage or destroy the slick.

[sharp_stick]

21. suck and salvage magic tankers

This looks like it is a "secret" technology much like the Valdez Star that was going to be the final word in oil recovery back in 1991. As with most "secret" technologies they are often more talk than action. When I see a single engineer claiming fantastic, pretty damned near unbelievable results on a State secret oil spill I usually wait and see.

I'd like to see this guys technology and how he plans to make it work with a dispersed emulsion in the gulf. How deep can it go, how does he plan to separate the water and oil, what is his "suction magic thingy that can pull up that much oil/water an hour.

Most importantly how much cash does he want up front before he shows anybody anything.

[meow mix]

24. fishing boats floating around in circles, with ropes?

give me a break... at least try to pick up some oil. every drop would be preferable

[sharp_stick]

29. Uh Huh

and how are the magic tankers supposed to do that? How deep can they work and pull oil/water emulsions? How will they go about separating the oil/water emulsions. Who owns these pumps that would have to be fitted to ships so massive that they have to calculate turns about 25 miles ahead of the proposed turn and how would these pumps be fitted to the supertankers?

Until this guy tells us how his secret technology works, I remain more than a little skeptical about its real availability today. He claims to be trying to contact the President of BP, how about conducting a real experiment and showing people where the technology is right now.

[meow mix]

30. putting a pump on a tanker is a big deal??

im not getting what the problem would be lol, i would think they would have all sorts of pumps already =)

[sharp_stick]

36. I don't think you grasp

the enormity of the situation, literally. I have serious doubts that this technology exists, until the guy can show it to someone, anyone, I remain skeptical.

Supertankers are not currently designed to perform this function. Not only would you have to fit them with massive pumps you would have to fit them with the power generating capability to run the massive pumps. Theoretically I suppose you could run the power from the tankers engines but that would mean a major overhaul of the entire power structure of the ship and it would probably be illegal because you are not supposed to mess with the power generating capability of a ship with that rated tonnage.

This guy claims that Saudi Goverment had a secret oil spill and now has a bunch of retrofitted supertankers that could be put into use in 72 hours. I want to see them.

[Webster Green]

47. Another link..different technology involving large skimmer ships..

From what I've read, these ships actually separate the water and return it to the sea with 95% of the oil removed, but that's not good enough for the EPA.

It is my opinion that removing 95% of the oil and using no dispersant would be a better solution than what they are doing now. The sea would recover much quicker with that percentage of oil removed. The dispersant just hides the oil and makes it impossible to clean up. The dispersant is known to be toxic, but we aren't allowed to know what it contains because it's BP's secret magic sauce.

http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/dutch-oil-spill-response-team-standby-us-oil-disaster

[meow mix]

50. best to just leave the oil in the water yeah..

these secret working technolgies are far to "iffy"

[mzteris]

57. 95% is pretty damn good to me.

EPA regulations - how can they be easily and quickly "voided" or "overwritten"? Who has the authority to DO that? Does it take Congress?

While I am one to take a little more time on the front end evaluating "what is going to work best in the long run", I'm a thinking that this "emergency measure" could at least lessen some of the damage. ??

Anyone have anymore FACTS on this?

[mzteris]

54. lay people never really understand

exactly how things work in arenas outside of their expertise.

"It seems so simple" to those of us who aren't involved in (pick an activity) - yet when you get down to it, it's a lot damn harder and more complex than you ever imagined.

For example: when hubby and I bought our first house, I wanted to install a small track light strip in one of the rooms. Not the convenient kind youhave now, but the kind that had to be "wired in". He was skeptical. I was all, " How hard can it be? They sell it at Lowes!?!" So he bought it and did iti - though it took days and several more trips to the store for tools and equipment and many many calls to his brother who is a natural at "handyman" work. His first remark, "WTH would you even TRY to do something like that? This isn't something just anybody can do!" Ofcourse hubby told him my "Lowes" remark...

It's been a catch phrase for our family ever since when confronted with something that SEEMS like it should be easy, but in the long run, probably isn't.

[meow mix]

56. so your saying its to hard to put a pump on a ship too?

lolol
we would be even more fucked if you guys were in charge

[mzteris]

62. you reallly have no idea,

do you?

What kind of pump? An aquarium pump? A SWIMMING POOL PUMP? You think there are hundreds of these specialized pumps just laying around in a warehouse collecting dust? You think you just plop 'em down on the deck, stick a hose over the side, and start SUCKING? REALLY?

It's all so simple. I see. Really I do. Maybe we should all go down to the Gulf and carry straws and suck and spit into buckets. would THAT make you happy?

It really and truly IS a lot more complex than you seem to think it is. :banghead:

[Webster Green]

58. Yeah, but I can install that track lighting blindfolded and in my sleep.

Almost true.

[mzteris]

63. You can.

(And are you talking the kind made 16 years ago? Not the "plug and play" kind now.

It'd be like having people PROGRAM their own computers to play World of Warcraft from scratch instead of popping in a disc that has already been done.

[Webster Green]

67. My post was not serious.

The point is that this stuff is not as complicated as you think it is.

You can continue to think it's all real mysterious if you like, but it isn't.

[mzteris]

70. hoooooooookay.

I'm glad you think you're as talented as people who have phd's in the matter.

[Webster Green]

84. You have reading comprehension issues.

At the very least. :smoke:

[Webster Green]

34. They should not be using dispersant.

Do you honestly think that suction and separation technology is that complex?

We humans can be very innovative if we desire to do so. Ever get a close up view of the business end of a Saturn 5 rocket?

[sharp_stick]

39. Innovation isn't the problem

time is the problem. I have no doubt that the technology could be developed but I have serious doubts that it has already been developed. If this guy actually has supertankers that have been retrofitted show them.

The Saturn 5 rocket took years of development even with the most massive funding efforts.

I am always nervous when someone starts talking about their fantastic invention that was only tried once several years ago on a secret oil spill.

On edit: I agree completely about dispersant's. I'm not familiar enough with their composition to render a judgment but I'm nervous they may be causing at least as much harm as they are helping.

[Webster Green]

48. Yet another friggin' link...

http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/dutch-oil-spill-response-team-standby-us-oil-disaster

[mzteris]

53. under active consideration:

The Politics Blog has learned that, over the weekend, BP's technical staff began to give serious attention to the supertanker strategy to attempt to recover some of the oil already in the Gulf of Mexico, a strategy that we first reported here, here, and here.

We also have learned that since the blowout in April, BP has received some 17,000 ideas for how to stop the flow or protect the coasts, and that it has taken the company considerable time to process the ideas, separating the good from the bad, the feasible from the impossible.

In addition to feasibility when it comes to implementing any of these ideas, BP is "bumping up against EPA concerns, NOAA concerns," according to one BP official, who added that "BP can't put a boat in the water without Coast Guard approval."

The official also said that most of the operational resources of the company are focused on the now much-discussed "top kill" strategy to plug the well, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, but is now set for Wednesday. In any case, the top kill is meant to stop the flow at its source and will do nothing to mitigate the oil already in the water.

There are considerable logistical issues that would have to be dealt with or overcome in order to deploy supertankers in the Gulf — primarily, available tankers would have to be scrambled, and tank storage availability would have to be secured, not to mention the question of where to situate the vessels so as to be most effective, given the widely dispersed spill — but should this supertanker strategy be attempted, we are told that it would be run out of the spill crisis center in Robert, Louisiana.

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/bp-top-kill-alternative-052410#ixzz0oxOtQwtM


****

remember, the FIRST priority "right f'ing NOW!!!" if you will, is STOPPING THE SPEW!

[Webster Green]

55. I disagree entirely.

With your last sentence, that is.

Stopping the leak, and cleaning up the mess are two different issues. There can only be a very limited number of people engaged in stopping the leak. That's just the way it is.

On the other hand, the cleanup effort should be massive, with as many people as it takes, and with any available technology that will help. (and NO dispersant).

[Webster Green]

17. That's right.

And "10 million gallons of oily water". That doesn't mean shit. What if it's 90% water?

[berni_mccoy]

22. So not collecting oily water is better? You're obviously not happy they are doing something.

[Webster Green]

26. Not really happy at all.

Just calling bullshit on meaningless stats, and believing my own eyes and ears, and coming to the conclusion that they are taking the wrong approach by applying toxic dispersant, rather than organizing MASSIVE surface oil containment and cleanup efforts.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

32. Yep.

In a better late than never news flash, I read they (BP) are going to be deploying supertankers to suck up the spill. These won't have any effect on the toxic muck they've "dispersed" to the bottom of the gulf, though.

[KharmaTrain]

27. You Can't Win...

If they were scooping up 99% of the oil, someone here would rant about the 1% that remains.

This disaster hits a lot of political hot buttons...those with an agenda will push them with little regard to facts or reality.

Cheers...

[Webster Green]

37. Yeah, well my agenda is to stop using dispersant.

What did you think it was? To trash Obama?

A statistic stating the amount of "oily water" recovered is totally meaningless. It just is. Sorry.

[KharmaTrain]

51. Lots Of Agendas Flying Around....

I'm all for prohibiting the use of Corex...have been since I first heard it was being contemplated. The administration has told BP to stop and they appear to be still using it...that's a criminal matter and should be investigated and dealt with. If BP persists, I think their planes should be grounded immediately.

That said, the other day there was someone who posted here that he thought the military should bring a carrier into the Gulf and use bombers to drop Corex...lots of different opinions...and that's what they are.

Unfortunately statistics in this type of disaster are all over the map. I'm willing to bet BP has an idea of the reserves in that hole but no clue as to what's escaping. They are lowballing the estimates for liability reasons, but the numbers being thrown around are speculative and thus I view as such.

The point is that there are critics here screaming that nothing is being done and when presented with information that the government is engaged as best they can be at this time that just isn't good enough. They're looking for a silver bullet answer here...there just isn't one.

[sharp_stick]

25. Then it would probably mean about 1,000,000 gallons of oil

separating the oil from the water in a strong emulsion is not quite as simple as letting salad dressing sit on a table.

Deep emulsions are a serious concern in this thing, it's not just a slick on the surface.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. For those interested in registering to volunteer

Here's the direct link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill

You'll also find there the numbers to report injured/oiled wildlife and oil sightings. For those who live in the direct path of the spill.

[mzteris]

65. wonder how many of the

ranters on here have signed up?

[pruple]

18. K&R

[Junkdrawer]

23. How is the "oily water" being recovered?

The siphon only recovers about 2000 bbl per day and has been active for, what, a week? That's about 588,000 gallons.

[SidDithers]

68. My guess is rope mop skimmers...

there are a bunch of different types of oil skimmers.

A Weir skimmer sits on the surface, at the oil water interface, and hopefully gets more oil than water down the collection chamber. It doesn't work well in rough seas.



Drum skimmers are better in rough water. The drum rotates, oil sticks to the drum, and is scraped off into a collection chamber, where it's then pumped out to some kind of storage chamber. They work well, but capacity isn't high with drums. Capacity is increased if the drum is replaced with a series of discs.



A rope mop skimmer will allow for the highest volume collection. Picture a giant polypropylene boa, that soaks oil, but not water. The rope is dragged through the oil, getting saturated as it's pulled back up into the skimmer. The rope then passes over and around a series of rollers which squeeze the oil out, collecting it in a chamber where it's pumped out to storage. Kinda like a old fashioned laundry machine.



A single large rope mop skimmer can collect ~ 100 barrels per hour.

Sid

[stray cat]

28. Its amazing how many DUers think people or at least the admistration have god like powers

and claim to be atheists.

[KittyWampus]

31. Yes, having been called a woo for having perfectly valid philosophical positions on this board

I have observed the Irony involved.

It's probably human nature to want Daddy to fix stuff when problems of such epic proportions arise.

[Upton]

33. Your numbers mean little

particularly when I see the real magnitude of what's going on down in the Gulf. Then you've got BP lying, doing whatever they want, refusing EPA directives...it just keeps getting worse and worse.

Meanwhile, President Obama claims he's "got his foot on the neck of BP" when all indications say the exact opposite..

[greencharlie]

35. =FAIL. nt

[bvar22]

73. Shhh!

You're ruining the "Mission Accomplished" parade.
(I wonder if Bush the Lesser is still using that old banner?)

[fascisthunter]

41. the last thing we need now is gloss

fucking incredible

[merh]

42. The booms didn't do those Louisiana marshes much good, did they.

Maybe if they had been deployed properly.

More than 10.24 million gallons of oily water recovered!?!?! Christ, how much is still out there. That is fucking scary given the large size of the still visible spill and given the fact that the dispersants have been deployed to make the spill less visible (what you can't see can't hurt you).

Those vessels have not been deployed to do much more than to put the booms out and the booms have not been applied properly, they are just used to make us feel like they are trying to contain the mess.

Go look at the aerial photos, you can see how few of those boats are actually working to skim the oil and how small the capacity of those that are doing the skimming. The vast majority of those 1150 response vessels are shrimpers and fisherman who are trying to do what they can to protect their livelihood while making a living.

[mzteris]

59. maybe if the MAYOR of Grand ISLE

hadn't've REFUSED to have them put in ?!?

". . . the mayor of Grand Isle, La., objected to the Coast Guard, saying they did not want oil containment booms used around the beach because it would be "unsightly" for beachgoers. Rear Admiral Mary Landry told Couric that they have to respect the wishes of local leaders." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/earlyshow/main6513824.shtml

[merh]

60. explain the other beaches and marshes that did use them.

If the booms worked, they would have contained to spill and Grand Isle wouldn't have needed them.

Duh!!

[mzteris]

66. other people are ranting about lack

of booms. Ask them.

[Bonobo]

43. Without context, facts are meaningless.

I do not have a sufficient grasp of the context to interpret the meaning of these facts.

Neither do you.

So stop pretending that the facts have a clear meaning.

They are wildly open to interpretation.

[flamingdem]

44. Why facts when it feels so much better to say FIRE EVERYONE! nt

[mzteris]

45. more FACTS about what's been done . ..

that everyone wants to ignore in there screaming fits...

I posted it last night - ONE person responded. ONE.



We started actually mobilizing equipment salvage engineers and everything right after the event happened into the 21st of April," he added.

Allen Outlines Federal Role in Oil Spill Response

". . . In a White House news conference today, Allen outlined the basic command-and-control structure for how oil spill response works. He told reporters that although the federal government has oversight, the spiller is responsible for financing cleanup, equipment and recouping damaging, according to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the oil company BP is the accountable party, Allen said.

The legislation was passed after the Exxon Valdez spill, and also created a liability trust fund to fund responses where there was no responsible party. The legislation charges Coast Guard area commanders with responsibility in those zones. These captain of the port zones work with state and local officials and stakeholders to develop protection plans, mainly for "sensitive areas," he said.

Captain of the port zones are present on every single part of the coastline of the United States. When they have to activate a response, the local Coast Guard commander is designated the federal on-scene coordinator and coordinates with state and local governments and directs the responsible party in the cleanup, the admiral explained.

"That is the way we have been prosecuting this case since the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon on the 20th of April," he said. "Even in advance of the sinking of the drilling unit, we were staging equipment that was against the scenario we would have a worst-case spill.

"We started actually mobilizing equipment salvage engineers and everything right after the event happened into the 21st of April," he added.

"This is not policy," he said. "This is a command-and-control structure. It's actually contained in the Code of Federal Regulations that implements the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. So there are actually clear definitions."

Allen said the federal response team "needs to make sure execute their responsibilities as the responsible party and we carry out our responsibilities and be accountable as the federal on-scene coordinators."

Allen also explained that in this role, the federal government can issue an order to BP to apply resources in a particular way if the government is not pleased with BP's method. However, BP, or the responsible party, is the one with the means to deal with the spill. The military does not have the equipment or technology to address the Gulf Coast spill alone, he said.

"Ultimately, we are accountable to make sure ," he said. "The law requires them to play a certain role, to pay for it, to provide equipment and so forth, and particularly with trying to deal with a leak on the bottom of the ocean there -- 5,000 feet down."

While BP works to cap the leak, states have requested support from the Army Corps of Engineers to prevent oil damage ashore. Louisiana has applied for a permit that suggests establishing a system of barrier islands and berm structures, the admiral said.

The Army is evaluating the requests and looking at costs and schedule as well as issues the engineers may face. Building the barrier islands could take as long nine months. The review is still ongoing by the Army and Coast Guard, he added.

Other U.S. military support comes from the Air Force, who has been conducting aerial spray missions to help in neutralizing the oil spill with dispersing agents. Also, the Air Force is transporting boom from Alaska. Meanwhile, the Navy is supplying vessels to act as staging platforms for BP workers and equipment.

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=5...


******

VENICE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard's construction of the Tiger Dam shoreline protection system near Venice, La., in the southwest pass of the Mississippi River Delta continues to move ahead.

"Our engineers continue to work to complete this project to protect coastal areas and provide a layered defense to lessen the impact of shoreline oiling," said 1st Lt. Rebekah L. Andersen, platoon leader with the 1023rd Vertical Engineer Company, 528th Engineer Battalion.

The 1023rd, headquartered in Oak Grove, La., has constructed nearly two miles of the 7.1 mile barrier across a beach in the southwest pass as a secondary line of defense to the boom line to protect the natural marshlands.

The location of the work site requires Soldiers to be airlifted in and out daily by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 1st battalion of the 244th Aviation Regiment based in Hammond, La.

Additionally, all of the inflatable barrier material and equipment was sling loaded and dropped in place.

"By being out here day to day and seeing the sand washed up against the dam, we can tell it's working," said Spc. Benjamin K. Davis.

This water diversion system, normally used for flood control, replaces sandbags and is comprised of a series of interlocking flexible tubes that are inflated with water to form a temporary dam or levee.

As work crews layout the Tiger Dam material for assembly and inflation, other crews work pumps to fill water into tubular sections.

"We just want everyone to know that we're here to do our mission, and we will do it as effectively as possible," said Andersen of Coffeyville, Kan. "We know that the community is in support of our activities overseas, but it seems a bit more personal when they see us working stateside." http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=5...

*******

Louisiana Guardsmen Continue to Push in Grand Isle
GRAND ISLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard is conducting around-the-clock operations to fill in a breach near Grand Isle, La., in support of operations related to the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana.

Guardsmen of the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, have been working day and night to fill in a 700 foot gap on Elmer's Island in an effort to keep oil tainted water out of an area that is critical to Louisiana's shrimp and tourism industry.

"It is important that we keep this operation continuous," said Staff Sgt. Robert L. Lanclos, who is in charge of the night time operations. "If we were to take nightly breaks before the entire mission was complete, the water's current would push and break the sand. Each morning we would be back to square one."

Using five dump trucks, the Guardsmen travel about two miles round trip along the shore line to pick up and drop the sand.

After the dump trucks drop the sand, a dozer pushes and packs it into place.

"It is a really complex mission, but the engineers can handle it," said Lanclos. "Because we are working after nightfall, we make sure safety is an important element, especially working so close to water." http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=4...

******

Gates Approves Federal Money for Guard Units in Gulf
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has given verbal approval to the governors of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida for Title 32 status for National Guardsmen to help to combat the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The requests are in addition to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's request for up to 6,000 National Guardsmen to be covered under Title 32 authority that the secretary approved yesterday, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. David Lapan said.

Alabama requested up to 3,000 Guardsmen, Mississippi requested 6,000, and Florida requested up to 2,500. Louisiana has employed about 1,200 Guardsmen on Title 32 status, and they are providing command-and-control and sandbagging assistance in St. Bernard and Plaquemine parishes.

Guardsmen possibly could be used in communications, logistics, transportation, assessment, medical, aviation support and shoreline clean-up, Lapan said.

Once the secretary gives approval for the Guard units to operate under Title 32 authority, "what puts them into action are requests from the on-scene federal coordinator," Lapan said.

Most of the 1,200 Louisiana Guardsmen are from the 225th Engineer Brigade with headquarters in Pineville, La. However, many of the volunteers are from the brigade's battalions located throughout the state, said Army Col. Mike Deville, state public affairs officer.

All Guardsmen are receiving Occupational Safety and Health Administration training as they come on duty to deal with contaminants when and if they come ashore.

The Guardsmen have pre-positioned a package of engineering and logistics equipment to be able to respond as quickly as needed, and they've helped the Coast Guard load booms on boats for deployment. They also are running aviation missions not only to provide reconnaissance of the oil slick, but also to ensure that boom equipment hasn't shifted position, officials said.

. . . "We have a good construct to operate in," McKinley said during a Defense Writers Group breakfast today. The Coast Guard is the lead federal agency in the crisis, and National Guard leaders in the region have a good working relationship with the service, McKinley said.

Title 32 authority means the Guardsmen continue to work for the governors of the states, McKinley said. "It also gives the federal government the opportunity to recover the funds through the Oil-Spill Recovery Act," he said. http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=4...

****

Pentagon Prepares for Possible Oil Spill Response
Date: 04.29.2010
Posted: 04.29.2010 06:19

WASHINGTON - A massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico that's headed toward U.S. shores is receiving "top-level attention" within the Defense Department as it evaluates what capabilities it may have to support the response mission, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said April 29.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Northern Command, the Joint Staff and the Navy are working in close collaboration with the White House and Department of Homeland Security to determine what assets are required, Morrell said.

"The secretary is prepared for us to help in any way," Morrell said as he reported "a full-blown effort within this department to try to find the kinds of things that could be helpful."

Morrell predicted that decisions could be made soon, particularly in light of President Barack Obama's announcement April 29 that he had stepped up the federal response effort.

"I think it's clear that this is a ... priority for the president and his administration," Morrell told reporters. "So we're going to work as quickly as possible to get him the answers he's looking for."

After the evaluation, the goal is to move as quickly as possible to provide the resources needed, Morrell said. In the meantime, planners at Northcom are planning for a variety of possible missions.

A defense coordinating officer and defense coordinating element from Northcom's Region Six are deploying to support the federal on-scene commander, and their counterparts in Region Four have been told to prepare to deploy, Jamie Graybeal, a Northcom spokesman, said.

Meanwhile, the Navy is providing salvage support as part of an existing agreement with the Coast Guard, Graybeal said.

Morrell emphasized, however, that industry has much of the technology and assets required to support such a mission. "So frankly, you want to work ... hand in glove with industry here, because in some cases, they're going to have ... better assets than we would," he said. http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=4...



From May 7th:

Military Support Continues on Gulf Coast

WASHINGTON - Military support continues May 7 as part of an interagency response force that's working to clean up an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Air Force flew six aerial spray operation sorties May 6 with C-130 Hercules aircraft to help in neutralizing the oil spill with dispersing agents. Ten more sorties are scheduled in the coming days, Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Robert Ditchey said May 7.

The two C-130 crews are assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing's 757th Airlift Squadron based at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. They are deployed to and operating out of Stennis International Airport, Miss.

Meanwhile, the Navy is sustaining logistical support, equipment and assistance in skimming and salvage operations. The Navy has provided 66,000 feet of inflatable oil boom with mooring equipment, 16 rapid deployment skimmer systems and 44 contractors to assist in the efforts.

The Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., has received the Navy equipment at the Mississippi State Dock. The equipment will be deployed as necessary. On-scene coordinators in support of the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are coordinating this effort, Ditchey said.

Also, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., is acting as a staging facility for BP contractor-provided equipment, such as containment booms, recovery barges, tractor-trailer trucks, pumps and other equipment, he added.

...The governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency. More than 1,000 National Guard Soldiers and Air National Guard personnel have been called to action along the Gulf Coast. http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=4...

********

[greencharlie]

46. the oily water stat is meaningless.

if they pump a zillion gallons of water that only contains 10 barrels of oil... that's meaningless. BP's response = FAIL. Shut them down, sell their assets. Done.

[limit18]

52. I'm sure this is Great news to the dead and injured wildlife...

[janx]

61. They are supervising BP and consulting with other experts

before they allow BP to go ahead with anything.

[jp11]

64. Rabble rabble rabble, how dare you come here with your high-falutin' fax, rabble rabble rabble.

[Scurrilous]

69. K & R

:thumbsup:

[readmoreoften]

71. FACTS: All of the booming is improperly deployed. And the dispersant is an environmental danger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_enCDXmVj0

Really? You people are disgusting. The "facts" you cited are propaganda worthy of Fox News. The booming is a PR event for BP. The dispersant is an environmental disaster in itself.

When are you people going to start putting the American Public before your defense of the Obama Administration?

[The Straight Story]

74. So we are saying it is all going pretty well and Obama gets the credit? (nt)

[tekisui]

75. You said it.

I was going to post that I wouldn't brag about a thing in the Gulf. Reporting what has been done in fine, but I wouldn't point to it as if it were a success.

Some estimates have had the leak rate at 3-4 million gallons a day.

[berni_mccoy]

78. Who's saying that? But at least the truth is far from what's being propagated here

that the Admin is doing absolutely nothing.

[The Straight Story]

79. Oh I know they are, I posted these yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8409631

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8409270

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8409175

[berni_mccoy]

80. And crickets are chirping in each of those threads while people cheer on what a FAIL the Admin is

DU is lost in the wilderness and it's being eaten up by RW wolves.

[The Straight Story]

81. One I posted I wish had gotten more comments was this one:

It just seemed surreal....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8409318

[mod mom]

77. posted on wrong thread

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. FACTS... you dare bring FACTS?

I mean that prevents my five minutes of hate...

:-)

[KonaKane]

83. How dare you post something positive about Obama!

Where's the angerrrrrr? Where's the outrage???

;)

[Dr Fate]

86. Good to know that there are no problems and everything is going great.

Thanks for the numbers.

[ShamelessHussy]

87. nice but it appears to still be woefully inadequate to the scale of the disaster

that's what bothers me most, not to mention seeing a company using gov officials to help protect their interest, instead of the gov protect weTHEpeoples interest.

[Dr Fate]

88. I'm also wondering if we really are doing all we can, or if what we are doing is enough.

And I think the average voter is wondering the same.

I'm no expert, but it still appears that our efforts are not doing the trick.

[nadinbrzezinski]

89. You know given the history of blow outs

it will take a relief well. QUICK how long did it take for the Ixtoc I to get that? Nine months.

All this is easy to find out using the google by the way.

[Dr Fate]

90. Whatever that means, you should tell it to the average swing voter.

Meanwhile, I have to wonder what would happen if Obama threatened to oppose all tax cuts, subsidies and no bid contracts to ANY AND ALL oil corporations unless they all pool their resources and get this plugged up, and cleaned up within a reasonable time. After all, it was the entire oil community who bribed congress into deregulation, not just BP.

I'll bet lighting that fire under some asses would get results in less than 9 months- but we will never find out. Obama cant do what I suggest because (insert excuse here.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

93. I know ignorance is bliss

Got it.

[Dr Fate]

94. BP & the average politician politician would certainly agree.

The less we know about what efforts are not being made but could be made, the better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. Problem is that if you chose to find out

what is going on you can. Just don't rely on the media. The Dylan Ratigan show was a classic today.

THEY ARE DOING NOTHING... and what are they showing? A US Coast Guard Plane doing something.

That was a CLASSIC.

Now after we actually find what is going on, then we can have a legit discussion on whether it is enough.

[Dr Fate]

98. If you think they are doing enough, great. At this rate, I doubt the average swing voter will agree.

But when I campaign for DEMS, I'll be sure to suggest that they are ignorant for having such views. I'll tell them to "look it up on google."

I also note that you glossed over my suggestion for getting the corporations to do it in less than 9 months (Ie threatening to oppose their subsides, tax cuts, no-bid contracts, etc unless they all get together and fix this)

[nadinbrzezinski]

99. I am not campaigning

I am stating a fact though. Americans are not intellectually curious, (never mind there are great tools to find out what is really going on in a myriad of matters).

I also pointed a fact, it took the Ixtoc I nine months to stop spewing, it took a relief well. You asked how long this can go? I gave you a time line, like fact based, using history. Nine months to a year would not shock me or surprise me

Deal with it. And yes, do call facts snark.

By the way I'd make a terrible politico... I cannot bring myself to the level of willful ignorance of most Americans, and actually that willful ignorance should be a collective shame... instead it is a collective pride. Now there is a problem with that, but don't expect you to get why.

[Dr Fate]

100. Lucky you. Maybe I shouldnt do any more campaigning either.

And guess what- maybe I DONT TRUST YOU when you tell me no one could fix this in less than 9 months.

If every major oil corporation in the world was threatened/preassured to pool their resources and stop this, maybe it could be done much quicker- or maybe they could even come up with another solution besdies whatever was done years ago.

Was this the case in the example that you want me to google? I doubt it.

You keep ignoring that part of my posts- where I say that Obama should preassure all big oil corps. to pool resources and get this fixed. May I make a second request that you address this point?

[nadinbrzezinski]

101. And you know they are not doing this HOW?

For the record I don't know if they are. But having some knowledge of what happens in a disaster, that is actually personal experience, I'd not put it above anybody putting pressure.

That said, the solution for all of these blowouts has been historically a relief well. Relief wells take AS LONG, or LONGER to drill than the original one. Original wells take months.

Now it is not whether you believe me. YOU COULD like look it up, use the google.

You know, be intellectually curious... by all means, DON'T TAKE MY WORD on this.

Or not... which is the average response, we love to make facts, and believe they are real because we made them up. Ah the American way... Jefferson would be proud NOT.

[Dr Fate]

102. Because I have yet to hear them say they will oppose all tax cuts & subsidies for all Big Oil. Link?

I also know they are not doing this b/c I have not seen every oil corporation get off their ass and get down to the gulf to help with the clean up. Have you? Most are still drilling somewhere, and spending my tax subsides & tax cuts that should have been mine.

Google cant tell me that THIS SPILL will take 9 months to clean up, google will only tell me how long it took to clean up another one, without the help of all of all of Big Oil's resources.

I'm saying that THIS SPILL, despite what google says, could be cleaned up quicker if all of the oil corporations were forced to help out. Obama could force them to do it by threatening to oppose their subsidies, tax breaks, etc.

Unless you have some info that Obama is doing this, I'll assume he is not. But he should.

[nadinbrzezinski]

103. Assume all you want

as I said Jefferson would be proud, NOT.

This is truly the American way... we LUUUVVEEE to make our own facts... or assume...

As to history, why would that matter?

[Dr Fate]

104. If you have links showing that every Oil corporation is working on this 24/7, show them.

Otherwise, it looks like you are the one who is assuming facts- ie when you say "How do you know they are not doing this"

The last disaster took 9 months to fix, but that was without the benefit of having every major oil corporation being put on the spot to fix it.

I just gave an example of how Obama could step this up and possibly get faster results, and your only response has been "how do you know they are not doing this."

Well, like I asked, if you have a link showing that they are indeed doing this, I'd love to see it. Show me the footage of Exxon fleets, etc. assisting in the clean up as well.

We both know you cant do this. You assumed facts, or maybe you even realize it's not a fact.

I cant find anything to back up your assumption on google. Link?


AGAIN: THIS COULD TAKE LESS THAN 9 MONTHS IF OBAMA FORCES BIG OIL TO WORK ON THIS 24/7. HE FORCES THEM BY THREATENING TO OPPOSE ALL TAX CUTS, SUBSIDIES & NO BID CONTRACTS FOR ALL BIG OIL.

If he refuses to do this, then I cant really say that he did "all he could do."

[nadinbrzezinski]

105. nah the history of the Ixtoc is good enough precedent for me

and it is not like you can have a bunch of companies drilling or do it too fact, for technical reasons. Go on use the google, or not

By the way I am kind of biased towards history... because I know it matters.

Go on... oh and as to your link I said PERSONAL EXPERIENCE tells me that pressure is applied, I do not have a way to know if they are or not... here is the kicker, neither do you.

So go assume all you want. Americans LUUVE to make up stuff... but I will not assume that they are not applying pressure either.

Oh and in case you wonder, BP KNOWS the real solution... and they already started drilling the relief well

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=93363

Now go on and assume all you want.

Now on a PERSONAL POV I don't believe BP should be in any way, shape or form involved in the cleanup, beyond paying for it. Alas there is law that requires them to... and that needs to change. Here is what YOU CAN DO... call congress and insist on EMERGENCY legislation to change this law that was like passed by a Congress and SIGNED by a President.

[Dr Fate]

107. So you have no such link- but we already knew that.

You can assume that BP is telling you the truth, and I can state that if Obama would force a situation where ALL Big Oil resources were working on this 24/7, it could possibly happen quicker than you say.

We agree to assume!

Also, your 9 months figure does not address having all the corporations help with the IMMEDIATE clean up- you ignore that point too.

I suggest a new precedent, not an old one that allows corporations to drag their feet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. What part of this is personal opinion based on personal

experience are you purposely missing? And I told you that...

You may take that as EDITORIAL comment.

Now have a good fucking life.

It's entertaining but to a point, and your point went by already.

[Dr Fate]

110. You are the one who suggested that Obama might be threatening big oil to help w/ the clean up...

Post 101- "And you know they are not doing this HOW?"

And I simply asked you to back up what that headline was suggesting.

You failed to do so.

I dont believe you, google or BP that Big Oil has to wait 9 freaking months to AT LEAST pool their resources and get out there and start cleaning up the ocean.

[ShamelessHussy]

92. folks who use snark to respond to legit questions, reveal more about themselves

especially during the largest, ONGOING, ecological catastrophe in our history.

[nadinbrzezinski]

95. Well snark you call it

I mean the part about using the google... and looking up information? Okie dockie.

You could try... a little intellectual curiosity is a good thing...

Except in the US... where the ongoing mantra is ignorance and made up facts is the way to deal with things.

And actually what you are seeing dear is frustration.

[Dr Fate]

97. Swing voters love snark too.

When I'm camapaigning for DEMS and a swing voter suggests to me that Obama & the DEM congress did not do all they could-or if they somehow have the perception that DEMS are being influenced by big oil, I'll just stick my hand out and say "do a google search you idiot!"

[Scurrilous]

91. K & R

:thumbsup:

[NYC_SKP]

106. Recommended.

Thanks for posting!

:patriot:

[branders seine]

111. 'They aren't just sitting around waiting for BP to stop the oil gushing out.'

Yes they are.

The overturned milk carton is still laying on its side gurgling milk all accross the counter, down the front of the cabinets and all over the floor.

I don't care how many mops the Obama loving crew are using on the puddle. THE MILK IS STILL SPILLING. PICK UP THE DAMNED CARTON ALREADY. The dairy farmer ain't gonna do it.

[freddie mertz]

112. + 1.

[Cha]

113. Yeah, I know..it's great..I'm glad they're in power and

not fucking mcpalin.

[Bonobo]

114. These links would be better if you made them blue. nt

[HughMoran]

115. I think 53 unrecs is your answer

No Superman flying to the center of the earth to fix the Gulf leak, no recs :shrug:

[mmonk]

116. Are you implying that any negative facts aren't true?