EPA Unsure Of Longterm Effects Of Dispersants In Gulf

Robert Hune-Kalter - Talk Radio News Service

According to an EPA official, it may take time to determine the permanent environmental effects of the chemical dispersants used by BP to combat the massive oil spill off the Gulf Coast.

“The long-term effects on aquatic life are still significantly unknown and BP has used over 1.8 million gallons of dispersants, a volume never before used in the United States,” Dr. Paul Anastas, the Assistant Administrator for Research and Development at the EPA, said during a hearing Wednesday with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

While the use of dispersants has been criticized by many environmentalists, Anastas explained that the dispersants are keeping oil off the beaches of the Gulf and away from sensitive ecosystems.

Anastas asserted that the oil spill has made it evident that additional research is needed.

“We want to have more science, more data, [and] more testing, upfront, so when we’re making decisions in an emergency situation, you have that data [and] you have that perspective at your fingertips,” he said.

EPA Says Dispersants Less Toxic Than Oil

by Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News Service

The Environmental Protection Agency finished its second round of toxicity testing on eight chemical dispersants and released their findings in a conference call Monday. The second round of tests on the dispersants used to combat the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill focused on testing the chemicals for their toxicity as compared to or combined with Sweet Louisiana Crude Oil.

Dr. Paul Anastas, the EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, told reporters that the findings show similar toxicity levels for oil-dispersant mixtures and oil alone, and that all dispersants tested less toxic than oil-dispersant mixtures. Anastas reiterated that the crude is, “enemy number one.”

The EPA supported the administration’s efforts to curtail the use of dispersants since the EPA’s May 26th directive to BP to cut down chemical application by 75%, and stated in a press release Monday; “Dispersants prevent some oil from impacting sensitive areas along the gulf coast. EPA’s position has been that BP should use as little dispersant as necessary.”

The first round of dispersant toxicity testing set out to determine the toxicity of eight chemical dispersants and their differences. The first report released in June that, “none of the eight dispersants tested, including the product in use in the Gulf, displayed biologically significant endocrine disrupting activity.” 

Although the EPA administrator assured that the testing was thorough and appropriate, some critics have brought up questions over the EPA’s sole use of juvenile fish and shrimp, which may leave room for confounding variables like reproductive issues. Some also questioned Anastas over the fact that the tests were done at “standard” temperatures and conditions, and not conditions that would mimic the recent use of the dispersants in underwater applications and extreme temperatures and pressures. 

EPA Says Dispersants Are Not Affecting Gulf Coast Environment

Robert Hune-Kalter - Talk Radio News Service

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson told the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday that the high amount of dispersants being used in the Gulf of Mexico has not produced any negative side effects, yet. 

Committee members grow wary of dumping high amounts of oil dispersants into the Gulf and showed particular concern about the short and long-term effects these dispersants will have on the environment.

“As of yesterday, BP had used 1.8 million gallons of oil dispersants in the Gulf,” said Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). “In Exxon Valdez we used 250 thousand barrels.  By comparison, Deepwater, the biggest oil spill in history, now uses 35-60 thousand barrels a day.”

Jackson assured the committee that the EPA has not seen any significant environmental impacts from the dispersants so far. Due to unknown scientific factors regarding these dispersants, the EPA has directed BP to greatly reduce the number of barrels of dispersants being dumped into the Gulf. The number of gallons being dumped has been reduced nearly 70% since May 26.

Dispersants have not been used within 30 miles of the coast and are prohibited from being used off shore because of the time it takes the dispersants to break up oil.

“Yesterday, the state of Louisiana reopened some state waters to fishing after tests showed no presence of oil or dispersants,” said Jackson.

Oil continues to spew from the well unabated after BP failed to cap it earlier this week.

Republicans Say EPA Is Overreaching Boundaries

By Robert Hune-Kalter
Talk Radio News Service

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) were joined by other GOP members for a press conference on the upcoming vote on the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding disapproval resolution. Murkowski is putting forth a resolution that would prohibit the EPA from regulating carbon emissions.

“The overreach that we see by the EPA is truly unprecedented in terms of overreach into the legislative branch by the executive. The EPA intends to take control of climate policy, take it away from Congress,” said Murkowski.

Alexander said he was not happy that the EPA wants to impose regulations on any emitter of more than 250 tons of carbon.

“This means one-fifth of our restaurants, one-fourth of all of our schools, two-thirds of all hospitals and doctors offices, one-tenth of our churches, and millions of small businesses, in effect such a broad rule would run millions of jobs overseas looking for cheap energy,” said Alexander.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he believes that the EPA regulating carbon output by businesses would be a disaster because the agency does not have the tools Congress has for regulation. While he said carbon regulation would be a job killer, he added that it is a goal to work towards.

“When it comes to carbon pollution, I am in the camp that believes all the stuff being spewed out of the cars and trucks and the plants is not good for you, but I would like to find a business-friendly way to regulate carbon,” he said.

Murkowski’s resolution will be debated in the Senate on Thursday.

Obama Administration Unveils New Fuel Efficiency Standards

The Obama administration introduced a new federal rule Thursday requiring cars and light trucks manufactured after 2016 to meet a fuel efficiency standard of 35.5 miles per gallon.

"The Clean Cars Program marks the first official action to control green house gas emissions from vehicles," Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson said during a conference call with reporters. "We expect to reduce green house emissions by the equivalent of 42 million cars over the life of the program."

A press release from Jackson's agency states that the standard will conserve nearly 2 billion barrels of oil throughout the life of the covered vehicles and will lower carbon monoxide emissions by 960 million tons.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood highlighted the economic benefits of the requirement.

“These historic new standards ...[will] encourage new and emerging technologies,” said LaHood in a statement. "We will be helping American motorists save money at the pump."

While the rule takes full effect in 2016, auto-manufacturers will be required under the program to reduce green house emissions by approximately 5 percent annually starting in 2012.