BP Oil Spill Topics

On April 20, 2010, the BP-operated offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank into the Gulf of Mexico becoming the worst industrial environmental disaster in U.S. history. Democracy Now! reported from the Gulf Coast, and continues to interview experts, government officials, local residents, and environmental activists about aftermath of the disaster.

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Antonia Juhasz: BP's "Missing Oil" Washes Up in St. Mary's Parish, LA

We speak with independent journalist Antonia Juhasz, who is just back from Louisiana, where she found what she calls some of BP’s "missing oil" on the wetlands and beaches along the waterways near St. Mary’s Parish, where no one is booming, cleaning, skimming or watching. [includes rush transcript]
Aug 04, 2010 | Story
EPA Whistleblower Accuses Agency of Covering Up Effects of Dispersant in BP Oil Spill Cleanup

With BP having poured nearly two million gallons of the dispersant known as Corexit into the Gulf of Mexico, many lawmakers and advocacy groups say the Obama administration is not being candid about the lethal effects of dispersants. We speak with Hugh Kaufman, a senior policy analyst at the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and a leading critic of the decision to use Corexit. [includes rush transcript]
Jul 20, 2010 | Story
Gulf Coast Residents Outraged that Money Earned on Cleanup Might Be Subtracted from $20 Billion Claim Fund

Gulf Coast residents are outraged by a recent announcement that the $20 billion government-administered claim fund will subtract money cleanup workers earn by working for the cleanup effort from any future claims. Fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg says the ruling will apply to anyone who participates in the Vessels of Opportunity program, which has employed hundreds of Gulf Coast residents left out of work because of the spill. It’s seen...
Jul 20, 2010 | Story
Report: 27,000 Abandoned Wells Pose Threat to Gulf Coast

Concerns are being raised about the hazards posed by thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells throughout the Gulf Coast. An Associated Press investigation found more than 27,000 abandoned sites are in danger of leaking, with about 13 percent said to be particularly worrisome. Regulations forcing companies to plug the wells have been routinely ignored with no government intervention. We speak with Jeff Donn, the AP reporter who broke the story....
Jul 09, 2010 | Story
ProPublica: BP Texas Refinery Had Huge Toxic Release Just Before Gulf Blowout

Just over three months ago, thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals began spewing into the skies from BP’s massive oil refinery in Texas City. The release began on April 6, two weeks before the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, but it took BP weeks to even realize there was a problem. BP now estimates 538,000 pounds of chemicals escaped from the refinery over a forty-day period. We speak with reporter Ryan Knutson of ProPublica...
Jul 09, 2010 | Story
Photographer Harassed by BP Security, Detained by Police While on Assignment at BP Texas Refinery

We speak with Lance Rosenfield, a freelance photographer who was hired by ProPublica to take pictures of BP’s Texas City refinery that had spewed thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals into the skies. While on assignment, Rosenfield was followed by BP security and then detained by local police. [includes rush transcript]
Jul 09, 2010 | Story
"If Only Information Flowed as Freely as Oil." By Amy Goodman

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced new rules keeping the public, including photographers and reporters covering the BP Oil Spill, from coming within 65 feet of any response vessels or booms on the water or on beaches. Violators could face a fine of up to $40,000 and felony charges.
Jul 07, 2010 | Columns & Articles
BP Oil Spill Cleanup Workers Getting Sick, Exxon Valdez Survivor Warns of Long-Term Health Effects

As the BP oil spill enters its seventy-eighth day, cleanup crews across the Gulf Coast are working to try and remove what they can of the expanding oil slick. And many of them are getting sick doing it. A growing number of cleanup workers have reported suffering flu-like symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and problems with memory and concentration. We speak with a Louisiana chemist, who testified before Congress to call...
Jul 07, 2010 | Story
Media Clampdown in the Gulf Coast: Government and BP Place More Restrictions on Journalists Covering the Oil Spill

Covering BP’s massive oil spill disaster has been a challenge for journalists, given the numerous restrictions placed by BP and, in many cases, local law enforcement and federal officials. But reporting on the spill and the cleanup efforts just got even harder. Last week the Coast Guard put new restrictions in place across the Gulf Coast that prevent the public, including photographers and reporters covering the BP oil spill, from coming...
Jul 07, 2010 | Story
Scientist Working with Government Says BP Restricting Access to Study Gushing Oil Well

As the BP oil disaster enters its seventy-seventh day, we speak to a scientist leading a team of researchers trying to get access to the well to better study what is happening at the site. Dr. Ira Leifer, who’s on the federally appointed Flow Rate Technical Group, says BP is restricting his access to study the gushing oil well. [includes rush transcript]
Jul 06, 2010 | Story