Pipe Cut By BP Is Not A Big Step, Says Climate Expert

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Brad Johnson, a Climate Researcher for the Center for American Progress, commented on the shearing of the oil pipe earlier Thursday morning.

"Cutting the pipe is not a great accomplishment," Johnson said. "It would be good if they can start to take steps to limit, or at least start capturing some of the oil directly from the site."

Johnson argues that the American Government needs to take more initiative in getting the situation in order so they can progress to more efficient methods in containing the spill.

"I believe that in the short term, one of the most important things that the government can do is take much greater control over the disaster spot. I believe that it's a problem to have have this environmental criminal be in charge of its own crime scene."

Currently, approximately 37% of the gulf waters are still closed to fishing and the upper edge of the spill is on its way to Florida.

BP Response Team Focuses On Containing Oil After 'Top Kill' Fails

By Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

Admiral Thad Allen, the National Incident Commander for the Deepwater BP oil response, said during a press briefing Tuesday that the failure of the 'top kill' method this past weekend has altered the response strategy's focus from capping the ongoing spill to simply containing the oil.

Currently, the response team is starting a new procedure to cut the top of the well's lower marine riser pipe and attach a cap to it that would then pump the leaking oil to a ship. During this period, Allen stated that a 20 percent increase in oil output could occur, making it a very risky procedure.

The method of containing the oil is a step to mitigate the crisis until a set of relief wells are constructed in August that could offer a permanent shut-off of the spill.

The Commander said that they were also looking to foreign governments for assistance and equipment needed to quell the disaster.

"We're actually reaching out to folks like the Netherlands, Canada and Mexico as sources of supplies."

BP Hesitant To Judge Effectiveness Of 'Top Kill' Method

By Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

Lamar McKay, the President and Chairman of BP America, was not yet ready to weigh in on the effectiveness of the oil giant's recently implemented "top kill" method to stop the massive oil spill off the Gulf Coast during his appearance before the House Natural Resources Committee Thursday.

“We do not know how long it will take for the operation to prove successful or otherwise ... If necessary, we are also preparing a technique to clog the BOP (Blow Out Preventer) and stop the flow. It involves injecting fibrous material into the BOP,” McKay said.

McKay reassured the Committee that BP is taking responsibility for all costs and will exceed the liability cap in their response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

“We are taking our responsibilities as a responsible party very seriously. We have said that we are not going to use any caps of any sort. We’ve said we are going to reimburse the government ... and we are not going to ask for reimbursement from the government for any claims.”

Senate Democrats Want To Ensure BP Is Held Accountable

By: Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

After the Senate failed to pass legislation on Tuesday that would raise the liability cap for those responsible for the oil spill, Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) held a briefing to stress the importance of lifting the liability limit for oil giants from $75 million to $10 billion.

“I don’t think BP’s words are anything to rely upon," said Menendez. Added the New Jersey Democrat, "By lifting the cap unlimitedly, whoever is determined to be beyond BP, the responsible party, will also be [held] responsible.

Lautenberg noted that BP does have the available funds to meet additional costs posed by a higher cap.

“BP had a $5 billion dollar profit quarter...they can afford to pay for their mistakes,” Lautenberg said.

Driven By Gulf Spill, Menendez Continues Fight Against Big Oil

After repeated failed attempts to force the Senate to vote on a bill that would hold oil companies more liable for damages caused by spills, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today announced a bill aimed at recouping more tax dollars from such corporations.

The Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act, which Menendez is co-sponsoring with Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would rescind a number of tax breaks that large oil companies currently receive; breaks Menendez believes are unfair.

“The flow of revenues to oil companies is like the gusher at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico; heavy and constant,” he said in a statement Monday. “There is no reason for these corporations to shortchange the American taxpayer.”

Yet, while Menendez says the bill would generate roughly $20 billion over the next decade, the intent of the legislation appears to simply be to punish the oil industry for profiting. Of the bill’s eight provisions, only one -- a proposal to place an excise tax on oil and gas produced on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) -- seems rooted in consumer protection.

Menendez, however, said the bill is necessary to prevent oil companies from continuing to gauge their customers.

“They certainly aren’t using the extra money they get from exploiting these loopholes to help bring down the price of gas for our families.”