Gulf Restoration Network

BP Oil Drilling Disaster: Documents Show BP Had No Plan Blog - BPs Oil Drilling Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico Saturday, 01 May 2010 11:57

GRN's board member, and coastal Mississippi-based environmental attorney Robert Wiygul, pointed out to us, that BP's federally registered plan for the development of this oil field included, and required, no plan to deal with the worst-case scenerio (such as the one currently threatening the North Central Gulf's coast and communities).  An AP article inspired by this information reports:

BP's plan filed with the federal Minerals Management Service for the Deepwater Horizon well, dated February 2009, says repeatedly that it was "unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur from the proposed activities."

And while the company conceded that a spill would "cause impacts" to beaches, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas, it argued that "due to the distance to shore (48 miles) and the response capabilities that would be implemented, no significant adverse impacts are expected."

No significant impacts?  With a state of emergency declared in Louisiana, the Feds calling it "of National significance," it's hard to argue that now.  Of course, this development plan was submitted under a Bush-administration led Minerals Management Service which belived in a collaborative approach with industry, and has led directly to this Gulf Coast crisis.

Aaron Viles is GRN's campaign director