I'm shocked.
SnakeDoc
Posted on 07/28/2010 1:55:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
ABC actually beat them to the punch on this story, reporting yesterday that clean-up crews are having trouble even finding the spill (“experts say an astonishing amount has disappeared, reabsorbed into the environment”), but only now that the Times is on it will it really break big.
It’s not that the oil’s all gone, of course. But a lot of it is. And the rest is … hiding.
Scientists said the rapid dissipation of the surface oil was probably due to a combination of factors. The gulf has an immense natural capacity to break down oil, which leaks into it at a steady rate from thousands of natural seeps. Though none of the seeps is anywhere near the size of the Deepwater Horizon leak, they do mean that the gulf is swarming with bacteria that can eat oil.
The winds from two storms that blew through the gulf in recent weeks, including a storm over the weekend that disintegrated before making landfall, also appear to have contributed to a rapid dispersion of the oil. Then there was the response mounted by BP and the government, the largest in history, involving more than 4,000 boats attacking the oil with skimming equipment, controlled surface burns and other tactics.
Some of the compounds in the oil evaporate, reducing their impact on the environment. Jeffrey W. Short, a former government scientist who studied oil spills and now works for the environmental advocacy group Oceana, said that as much as 40 percent of the oil in the gulf might have simply evaporated once it reached the surface.
An unknown percentage of the oil would have been eaten by bacteria, essentially rendering the compounds harmless and incorporating them into the food chain. But other components of the oil have most likely turned into floating tar balls that could continue to gum up beaches and marshes, and may represent a continuing threat to some sea life. A three-mile by four-mile band of tar balls was discovered off the Louisiana coast on Tuesday.
Less surface oil means fewer dead animals and, presumably, less of a chance that a hurricane’s going to blow in and paint the coast black. As for the oil below the waves and what it’s doing to marine life, oxygen levels, etc., the feds will have to get back to you on that. So far, so good, though: The Times notes that two early assessments have found relatively low concentrations of toxic compounds in the deep sea.
Exit question: Now that they’re probably going to start scaling back the clean-up, will The One also relent on the drilling moratorium he seems to wants so badly?
Update: Says Karl, “I’d bet that you could search the NYT coverage of the Exxon Valdez and not find a story like that.”
Where’s my environmental armageddon ?
Will there still be a drilling moratorium ?
Shocking, I tell you, shocking!
But if Bush were still President, the oil would be getting more toxic every minute, right MSM ?
If the exact same leak, with the exact same amount of oil, happened during the Bush Presidency, it would have been an environmental catastrophe of End of The World dimensions.
Good thing there’s a muzzie-commie in the White House. All we’re left with is a slick spot.
Rush was going on about this. But the problem is not over by any means. I want to see how many estuaries, fishing grounds, oyster beds were contaminated or ruined for years. Are there lakes of oil slinking along on the ocean’s floor? The heavier components can sink to the bottom.
Lets assume this well will really be capped and sealed with concrete in a few weeks. Soon after that we will find out how much damage was done
“But if Bush were still President, the oil would be getting more toxic every minute, right MSM?”
Which begs the question...WTF?
Is this the “worst disaster in history” or a cover up or (heaven forbid) the environmentalists GOT IT WRONG...AGAIN!!!
I remember a few weeks ago that Governor Jindal and other leaders in Louisiana called for prayer to the Lord to get rid of the oil. God used different methods to clean it up! HE ANSWERS PRAYER! PRAISE HIM!
What happened to the gulf when Saddam Hussein unloaded all that oil during the first gulf war ( to free Kuwait ) ? That was probably the largest oil related environmental disaster ever.
I believe the gulf has returned to its original state.
I’m sure Al Gore can find it
That sneaky oil.
I'm shocked.
SnakeDoc
Will the One give money back to BP? No, because the money was seized due to the One’s hatred for business, and his desire to illegally seize the assets of legal businesses.
“But the problem is not over by any means. I want to see how many estuaries, fishing grounds, oyster beds were contaminated or ruined for years.”
What about the rumor fear that the human beings living near the oil spills will get cancer and other diseases?
Yes, that is what I’ve heard.
I just hope the Obamas don't ruin the trip for us by showing up!
Mother Nature. She doesn’t care what you think.
Just got back from Panama City where the water was clear and clean and green.
This is another example of Katrina-like MSM hype, and much of the public fell for it. (Including, oddly, a lot of Freepers) Now the effort begins to change the subject before the public figures out it’s been had.
Bp needs to give the $ to MANY small businesses that will not survive this situation, whether the oil is gone now or not. Last week Orange Beach area was almost void of tourists. It was a very eerie occupied feeling in that area.
I don't know how much shrimp oysters and fish was in those waters to begin with. I don't think that much compared to the Gulf of Mexico
The estuaries and shore line swampy areas are where fish spawn. How contaminated and ruined did they get and quickly can they bounce back? You could have fish, shrimp and oyster yields dramatically down for years. You won't be visiting Pensacola to go fishing on a charter boat. We'll know more in a few months.
My point is that just because the oil slick is gone, doesn't mean all is OK now
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