“We are dealing with a multitude
Of different types of pollution here…
Everything from diesel fuel in the water,
To gasoline, to things like household chemicals.”
Larry Chambers,
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer
Contrary to what Candidate John McCain says
Offshore oil drilling is most definitely - not safe
Just like in Hurricane Katrina’s fury, three years ago
There was environmental havoc in Ike’s wind and waves
Ike’s horrific deadly winds and extremely massive waves
Destroyed oil platforms, and tossed huge fuel storage tanks
At least half a million gallons of crude oil dumped in the Gulf
The fresh water bayous and salt water bays suffered and stank
Immediately after the storm, Gulf residents started reporting
Numerous instances of oil and gasoline, floating in their streets
Power failures from the storm backed up numerous sewer systems
People, pets, farm animals, and birds abysmally got oil on their feet
Both the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency
Are now dealing with over 3,000 pollution reports from the storm
Nearly 1,500 sites along the Gulf Coast will have to be cleaned up
And no matter what anyone says, oil causes havoc on nature’s norm
Our Gulf of Mexico with nearly 4,000 oil rigs is already severely polluted
Do we as a nation also want to do the same to our east and west coasts?
Even the oil experts say the benefits of more drilling will take a decade
And how much more destruction will ensue, and should we really boast?
Drill, Baby, Drill, might be your chant,
But it’s definitely not one that I can endorse;
We should now be pursuing alternative energy,
Not foolishly maintaining our deadly oil course.
With Hurricane Ike approaching, refineries and chemical plants on the Gulf Coast shut down as a precaution, burning off hundreds of thousands of pounds of organic compounds and toxic chemicals.
In other cases, power failures sent toxic chemicals such as ammonia directly into the atmosphere. These ‘accidental’ releases probably will not result in any penalties by regulators because they are being blamed on the storm.
Power outages also caused sewage pipes to stop flowing. Elsewhere, the storm's surge dredged up smelly and oxygen-deprived marsh mud, which killed more fish and caused residents to complain of nausea and headaches from the odor.
At times, a new spill or toxic release was reported to the Coast Guard every 5 to 10 minutes. One caller reported a sheen from an underwater pipeline, and said the substance was "spewing" from the pipe.
The storm analysis found that, by far, the most common contaminant left in Ike's wake was crude oil.
The Minerals Management Service, which oversees oil production in federal waters offshore, said the storm destroyed at least 52 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Thirty-two more were severely damaged.
A resident of Slidell, La., called to report massive amounts of oil in his neighborhood. The town, north of Lake Pontchartrain, was flooded with Ike's surge. He said gobs of oil had washed down the town’s streets.
If John McCain’s New Oil Plan Comes To Pass,
You Might Want To Sell Your Beachfront Property,
In Both Florida and in California, Extremely Fast
©2008, Mr. Ed
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Thanks for sharing
Peace be with you
William
Be always safe,
Karen
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :(
Newfie hugs, Rose
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
But what I know, a schmuck paying five bucks for gas lashed with all kind of chemicals that are too costly to be disposed the responsible way...
Georg
As Bonnie says, there must be another way. I'm not quite sure why they can't harness solar energy. I live in an area where there is more than enough solar to go around. When I think of off-shore drilling, the first thing that hits my mind, althought it isn't quite the same is Exxon-Valdez. This was a wonderfully written piece and gives the entire country a broader prospective. Thank you.
Mary