What happened to prevention?
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is beginning to get ridiculous. [“Giant oil plumes found in deep waters,” News, May 16.] It has been almost a month since the Deepwater Horizon, a British Petroleum oil rig, sank into the Gulf of Mexico on April 22, and the oil spill is yet to be contained.
Throughout this last month, BP has effectively done nothing to successfully contain this oil spill. The only thing we can rely on is gross underestimations on the actual amount of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico each day.
Yes, BP has been trying various methods such as drilling relief wells, lowering cofferdams and inserting suction tubes. However, all these methods have never been tested at the depth where the Deepwater Horizon lies. Obviously, none of these methods are working. But has not BP received the message.
Prevention — it is one simple word that could have saved wildlife and millions of dollars in claim fees that need to be paid out to those affected. Couldn’t we just increase our safety standards and protocols? For example, in the United States, only one safety valve is required whereas other countries, such as Brazil require two. This would save millions of dollars in costly cleanup and keep our environment clean.
— William Hwang, Seattle
Murray, Cantwell push bill to ban oil drilling off Washington and Oregon shores
Why are Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell wasting everyone’s time by putting forth a bill to block oil drilling off Washington and Oregon shores? [“Ban sought on Pacific offshore drilling,” NWFriday, May 14.]
My husband has been in the oil business for more than 30 years and says there are no oil reserves off Washington and Oregon shores. Such a ban means nothing.
I also saw a fisherman on last night’s news supporting this legislation because he saw the effect of an oil spill off Washington’s shore a few years ago. That oil spill was from a tanker —not from an offshore well. There are no wells and there never will be.
I suggest our senators do some research before putting forward a needless bill. I know this is an election year and they want to appear proactive. But, in this case, they do not make any sense.
— Jane Bennett, Woodinville