Marine and Coastal Water Pollution Case - The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, April -July, 2010, Gulf of Mexico

7/25/2019 Marine and Coastal Water Pollution Case - The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, April -July, 2010, Gulf of Mexico

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The Gulf of Mexico DeepwaterHorizon Oil Spill April 20,2010

Principles of Environme

Marine and CoWater Pollutio

Case: BP Oil S


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Background

The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig was destroyed byan explosion and fire as a result the oil well released oil

into the Gulf of Mexico.

The worst environment disaster in US history.

It claim the lives of 11 rig workers and injuring

approximately 17 persons.


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The federal government estimated 4.2 million barrels

of oil spilled into the Gulf for almost 3 months.

Caused significant economic harm to the Gulf ofMexico fishing industry.

It impacted marine populations and degradation of

fisheries habitat.

Background contd


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Health and Environmental Effects

Chemical exposures (toxicity) that severely affected wild

and human population (death and illnesses)

short term and long term adverse effects(respiratory,

neurological, physical injuries and psychological effects).

Occupational hazards and food contamination


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Routes of Exposure

Dermal (contact) skin/mucous membranes

Inhalation(air) ocular (eyes) and Respiratory (cough)

Neurological: nausea/vomiting

Ingestion: Food and water gastrointestinal tract


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Vulnerable Group/Population at Risk

Women and children

Fishermen, Military personnel's, cleanup workers and

volunteers.

Residents of the affected community and those living

near or along the Gulf coast region.

Commercial and industrial personnel

Visitors and tourists


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Risk Communication Strategies

communication was not consistent and meaningful

about the importance of process safety and a firm

conviction that process accidents are not acceptable

Information was also provided about the various

hazards, risk factors, protection and safety guidelines

was given and how prevent future disasters


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Risk Assessment

safety audit done in 2009

Poor risk reduction strategies - focus on cost cutting inst

Ignored expert advice, overlooked warnings about safetissues and hid facts

Focused on personal safety

The various levels of exposure was tested


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Risk Management

Poor risk management practices by management that winfluenced by wrong decisions

Insufficient emergency bridge response training by

employees responsible

Minimal regulatory compliance NOAA Regulations,

NRDA,OPA,FDA and other regulations


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Legislation in Jamaica

Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act 1991

The Harbours Act 1874,1971

The Shipping Act 1998 and Marine Legislation

The Wildlife Protection Act. 1945

The Petroleum Act 1979 and The factories Act 1961


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Griffin, Drew, Nelli Black, and Curt Devine. "5 years after

Gulf oil spill: What we do (and don't) know." CNN News 2Apr. 2015. CRS Report for Congress. Web. 20 June 2016.

.

Simpson, Kate. "Deepwater Horizon: An Ongoing

Environmental Disaster." Environment America. N.p., n.d.

Web. 18 June 2016.

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References


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Upton, Hopeton F. The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and t

Gulf of Mexico Fishing Industry. N.p.: CongressionalResearch Service, 2010. CRS Report for Congress. Web. 2

June 2016. https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41640.pd

The U.S. Chemical Safety Boards Investigation into the MacondoDisaster Finds Offshore Risk Management and Regulatory Overs

still Inadequate in Gulf of Mexico." The US Chemical Safety Boar

N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2016. http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemi

safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-

offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadeqin-gulf-of-mexico/.

References
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41640.pdfhttp://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.csb.gov/the-us-chemical-safety-boards-investigation-into-the-macondo-disaster-finds-offshore-risk-management-and-regulatory-oversight-still-inadequate-in-gulf-of-mexico/https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41640.pdf

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Marine and Coastal Water Pollution Case - The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, April -July, 2010, Gulf of Mexico