May 26, 2010 archive

Clean Water Act: Fines up to $4300/Barrel

Ever wondered why BO and BP (the smelly twins) are refusing to admit the real figures on the oil spill?

Just out of sheer spite?

Nope.

(Reuters) – Just how many barrels of oil are gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon spill is a billion dollar question with implications that go beyond the environment. It could also help determine how much BP and others end up paying for the disaster.

GULF OIL SPILL

A clause buried deep in the U.S. Clean Water Act may expose BP and others to civil fines that aren’t limited to any finite cap — unlike a $75 million limit on compensation for economic damages. The Act allows the government to seek civil penalties in court for every drop of oil that spills into U.S. navigable waters, including the area of BP’s leaking well.

As a result, the U.S. government could seek to fine BP or others up to $4,300 for every barrel leaked into the U.S. Gulf, according to legal experts and official documents.

http://www.reuters.com/article…

I’ll bet Kenny Boy will be all over this, to get them to pay up– to the max.

Err, Right?

Doc’s Prescription for Natural Resources 20100525

The Minerals and Mining Service (MMS) has been outed as not only corrupt, but most probably criminal as well.  This is the branch of government that is supposed to regulate mining drilling for energy, but its influence actually goes much further.

This agency has been, until a few days ago, responsible for regulating the extraction of ores, energy, and many other things from United States controlled property.  Unfortunately, it is worse than useless.

America The Beautiful

CLAP LOUDER or Tinkerbell WILL DIE and Obama’s approval rating will drop

This diary has been written in response to a diary on the reclist at Daily Kos which insinuates that all anger associated with BP Oilpocalypse and Obama’s handling of it is unwarranted.

You see, all criticism of Obama and his policies/appointees is stupid, and only really helps the Republicans. Holding “Feet to the fire” is stupid too. Instead of Yelling Louder, you should be CLAPPING LOUDER, or Tinkerbell will die and Obama’s approval ratings will drop.

CLAP LOUDER today, so Obama and the Democratic party can finally implement the GOP platform of 1994! and isn’t that so much better than what would happen if the post 1994 GOP were to come back into power? So who cares about demanding MORE and BETTER from Obama? Whose side are you on anyway?

More snark below the fold

Afternoon Edition

Afternoon Edition is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Long odds that BP’s desperate ‘top kill’ will plug oil leak

by Stephane Jourdain, AFP

1 hr 13 mins ago

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) – BP on Tuesday readied an ambitious plan to smother a ruptured underwater oil pipeline in heavy drilling fluid and cement, although company officials conceded that the “top kill” procedure has long odds for success.

BP’s top officer downplayed the likelihood that the desperate effort will succeed in actually sealing the pipe, which is spewing hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude into the Gulf each day.

“If it was on land we would have a very high confidence of success, but… we need to be realistic about the issues around operating in a mile of water,” BP CEO Tony Hayward told reporters on Monday.

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