update on local spill

[novapsyche]

State Emergency Operations Center Activated in Response to Oil Spill in Calhoun County

Michigan Governor Warns of Oil Spill Threat (NYT)

Enbridge pipeline breaks, spills 19,500 barrels

(See also my response to kittenkissies in a previous post.)

This begs the question: why didn't President Obama declare the oil spill in the gulf a disaster so FEMA could get involved? Not that the spill was initially perceived as an emergency (heck, I can't even find a news article dated April 22nd mentioning the explosion), but as time went on he could have said those magic words so as to let experts come in, take measurements, and document the state of the situation from the outset; coordinate medical responses for locals as well as clean-up crews who have become ill in the aftermath; & appear to hold a multibillion-dollar corporation responsible for its mess.

As it is, the president's image has been tarnished by the perception of collusion (not just with the industry in general but with BP in particular). I don't know if that stain can be wiped away. As some portentious lyrics once detailed, "Never shook Satan's hand, look see for yourself / You'd know it if I had, that shit don't come off."

Comments

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

A key factor that is over-looked in the Gulf oil spill is that it occurred in international waters. The US government doesn't have any sort of authority there - and there are lots of good reasons for that, notably that we'd start having wars over every square inch of ocean floor if we allowed one country to have more power than another. (That corporations can operate essentially outside of any government's regulations is a separate issue, eh?)

In any case, FEMA can't work on the Gulf oil spill because it's not on American soil. FEMA can only be called in once the oil gets to within 12 miles of the shore.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I guess I missed it when the US abandoned the Monroe Doctrine.

FEMA can only be called in once the oil gets to within 12 miles of the shore.

Wow. How useless.