Well “Integrity Test” Will Continue In 24-Hour Increments

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

Despite BP Senior Vice President Kent Wells’ declaration this morning that the well tests, which have been successful in temporarily stopping the oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen has released a statement telling the press that, “The ongoing well integrity test will continue until 4 p.m. EST [Sunday], with the potential for additional extensions in 24-hour increments.”

Allen released Saturday that the federal government had approved a 24-hour continuation of the well “integrity test,” but assured that, “as a condition of the extension, the US government has required significant new monitoring and periodic evaluation and approval by [its] science team.”

The Deepwater Horizon Response Joint Command has been conducting tests since Wednesday on a 75-ton “stacking cap” capable of either siphoning off crude oil from the broken Macondo well, or possibly of capping the well altogether.

The team has been monitoring the pressure of the oil building underneath the cap, and lower than expected readings are being examined in order to determine whether another leak has sprung elsewhere, or the oil reservoir has simply been depleted by the nearly three month long oil leak, according to the administration’s point man.

“Progress also continues on the two relief wells the federal government has required BP to drill. The relief well remains the ultimate step in stopping the BP oil leak for good,” said Allen.

Gulf Officials Demand Local Leadership, Spill Emotions Like Oil

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

Local officials met with President Barack Obama’s special BP-Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling Commission in New Orleans Tuesday to deliver a strong message to Washington from Gulf Coast citizens.  

“The response needs to be driven locally,” said A.J. Holloway, Mayor of Biloxi, Mississippi.

Charlotte Randolph, President of Lafourche Parish, LA said that local residents can serve as guides to cleanup crews struggling to keep up with the spewing well.

“In a war, there are two things that happen. Number one, you find the people in that particular area who can speak the language, and number two, you find the people who know the terrain,” Randolph said. “It’s our territory, we know it. Let us advise you all the way in how to attack this.”

Local leaders compared the administration’s handling of the Macondo/Deepwater Horizon gusher to the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, during which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has since become somewhat of a dirty word on the Coast, was harshly criticized for having worked remotely and inefficiently.

“We’ve been through hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, recessions, depressions and we survived it all,” Mayor Holloway said. “What we have trouble dealing with, is something that will not end. It’s a new oil spill every day, every single day.”

Mayor of Grand Isle, La. David Camardelle said that locals are standing strong and lending helping hands when needed, but is still uncertain as to what the future holds for the Gulf.

“We’re not gonna give up, but I can tell you one thing, by taking everything away from us, from the waters, I don’t know what the hell’s gonna happen to us,” said Camardelle.

Use Of Dispersants In Gulf Questioned By Presidential Commission

By Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

The President’s Commission on the BP-Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling raised questions on the use of chemical dispersants in managing the leak in a meeting in New Orleans, Tuesday.

Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response for the Environmental Protection Agency, cautioned that, “despite dispersants being a tool … [dispersants] must be the tool of last resort.” Stanislaus continued that the federal government has repeatedly advised that chemical dispersants must only be used in the event that containment booms and burns are insufficient.

Stanislaus revealed that the EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard raised concern over BP’s “skyrocketing” use of surface dispersants as far back as May,  requiring that BP cut back on dispersant use by 75%.  According to Stanislaus, BP has reined in their application of the chemicals by 69%.

The official did not comment, however, on the safety of controlled burn methods, which have raised concerns by many in the general population due to possible air polluting effects, which may reintroduce toxic chemicals into the water column by natural climatic processes.

Feinberg Outlines Reimbursement Process For Gulf Coast Victims

Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, outlined the process for reimbursing business owners hit hard by the oil spill in the Gulf Coast during his testimony Wednesday before the House Small Business Committee.

Mr. Feinberg said there are two important prerequisites for securing compensation through the fund.

“One, is the claim eligible, is it even appropriate to file a claim.  Even if you have an eligible claim, corroborate it.  You have to corroborate your claim.  You can’t come in and say ‘I’m out of work,’ ‘I’m losing $5 thousand a month, pay me.’  Show me you are out of work,” said Feinberg.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) asked what can be done for motel and restaurant owners who live in his district, where no tar balls have rolled up on the beaches, but because of perception tourism is down 50 percent.

“This is a very tough issue, I mean there is not enough money in the world to pay every single small business that claims injury no matter where or when,” Feinberg responded.

Feinberg will draw from $20 billion escrow fund established this month to offer small businesses long-term lump sum payments instead of month-to-month emergency payments. There are currently 35 claims locations located in the Gulf Coast Region. Claims can also be filed online.

“I welcome and urge all eligible claimants to file a claim with this facility that has been established under my direction,” Feinburg said. “Anybody, any private individual, or company who feels that they have a valid claim to draw out of this facility, should file a claim.” 

Gulf Coast Struggling, But Open For Business

By Miles Wolf Tamboli
Talk Radio News Service

Like so many Gulf Coast businesses, the Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina was doing great until April 20th. Now, in the wake of the disastrous oil spill, its owner is struggling to make ends meet.

"Our phones are not ringing and we're not getting reservations because of the oil spill in general and ... how the media has portrayed it," Duke Gibbs told Talk Radio News Friday. "Nine out of ten days on our resort there's not hint of oil, there's no smell of oil, but the spill in general has just killed our activity."

Gibbs' message was clear; the entire Gulf Coast is struggling from a misleading reputation stemming from the spill's impact. In fact, he said, the beaches where he is are clean, and the area is open for business.

"Over the last week I've seen a big difference in the amount of organization and cleanup effort ... our beaches look great ... they're responding quickly, and I also believe they're doing a much better job of containment out in the Gulf," said Gibbs.

The Country Music Channel will be hosting a free concert featuring Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney in Orange Beach, Alabama on July 1st to raise awareness and demonstrate support for the Gulf Coast region. To commemorate the event, Gibbs' resort will be holding a "4 for 2" night special, to encourage tourists to visit the area.

Gibbs told Talk Radio News Service that the Alabama Gulf Coast has the same white sand beaches, shopping, and dining of bigger Gulf Coast resorts like Destin and Panama City, Florida, but without the crowds. Because of this, Gibbs considers it "the perfect destination."

"Our only hope is to try to remain positive and promote our businesses ... and at the same time hope that BP will do their part," said Gibbs.

Still, Gibbs is aware that the economic future of the Gulf Coast is still uncertain. When asked about his stance on the six-month moratorium imposed by the Obama administration in response to the spill, Gibbs explained that up to 50 percent of his clients' businesses are somehow tied to the oil industry, and "they believe [the moratorium] will do nothing but absolutely kill the entire Gulf Coast economy over in the Louisiana and Texas area."

Gibbs said he has filed a claim with BP, but because he opened his resort just in the past year, he cannot provide the oil giant with the three to four years' of documents it requested. Gibbs filed his request two and a half weeks ago, and has not yet received any sort of compensation.