Category: Gulf of Mexico

Gulf Coast Recovery-Final Thoughts from My March Visit

Gulf Coast Recovery-Final Thoughts from My March Visit

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The past week has offered another opportunity to witness the absolute beauty of the sacred shores of the Gulf Coast. While some areas appear unchanged or even worse, other areas appear to be slowly recovering. Unlike hurricane recovery, which is somewhat predictable, recovering from such a catastrophic environmental disaster, like the BP oil spill, is filled with unknown consequences, unknown outcomes.

Of the seven areas I continue to document, the one that had the greatest impact from the oil was the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Mobile Street access. One improvement I noted on the three visits I made there this trip was a higher number of sanderlings foraging along the tideline. Other findings? There was an unusually high number of worm casings washed up in large clusters at this beach as well as an unusually high number of bird feathers littering the beach…from pelicans, gulls, loons, terns. On my first visit it looked as if someone had plucked various birds and left their feathers along the beach. I kept expecting to see carcasses that would explain the source, but I never did. There were thousands of Portuguese Man-O-War jelly fish washed up on my third visit to this beach. Another oddity I have never seen before this visit.

While it is normal to see shells washed ashore after high surf, the beach at the refuge had enormous piles of shells lining the tide line. None of the other beaches I visited had such a tremendous amount of shells washed up. With all of the oil still submerged offshore here, I wonder what is happening to life that lives on the bottom at this location.

In addition, Bon Secour NWR area at Mobile Street continues to have a large shelf of mostly buried oil along the tide line. As well, the middle beach area is littered with tar balls that also get covered and uncovered by migrating sand. There continues to be a crude oil smell that varies in intensity with surf conditions. When waves stir up submerged oil, it becomes airborne evidenced by metal signs on the beach and my cameras and face becoming coated with salty-oily, brown mist blowing across the water.

March 7, 2011July 2, 2010

The beach at Gulf State Park Pier has definitely improved since the spill, at least in appearance. The snow-white sand is restored due to a deep-cleaning process which sifted 18 inches of sand through giant machines. This process of ‘strip-mining’ the beaches is not without potentially damaging side effects, one being negatively affecting potential nesting areas of sea turtles which need tightly compressed sand to lay eggs. At least it looks better. Of course, there are still tar balls washing up on the beach. Thankfully, there are visitors who take sand buckets and pickup tar balls, in an effort to keep the beaches clean.

March 7, 2011
July 2010
Each area shares a teaching in this puzzling recovery from the spill. I’ve been documenting a flock of sea gulls at Gulf State Park Pier beach since oil came ashore. When the oil was thick on the beach, I noticed gulls panting, acting lethargic and exhibiting other odd behaviors. With each subsequent visit, new signs of chemical poisoning appeared. I documented orange growths on feet and legs of the shorebirds there as well as much foot and leg damage. Also, with each visit to the beach there were fewer birds. Eleven months later there were only four gulls on this beach. Two were migratory. The other two were laughing gulls. One appeared okay while the other was exhibiting the same panting behavior I noted during the worst of the oil spill. Can birds get asthma? How is their respiratory system affected? Where are all the gulls of the pier beach?

At Romar Beach, the sand was white and the water appeared clean. I stood on the beach, watched and waited, and I very randomly caught a whiff of crude oil smell. It was not consistent, but it was apparent. Beautiful beach, clean water? REALLY clean sand? How can we know?

Gulf Islands National Seashore has been one of my favorite beaches to visit due to the remote location and the pristine beauty. It was affected by the spill but did not have the damage that areas further west suffered and continue to suffer. It is a long spit of sand surrounded by the Gulf on one side and inland waters on the other side. On the inland side, I saw hermit crabs and schools of small fish in the water. There was a large flock of canvasback ducks, a few buffleheads and loons either hunting for fish or feasting on submerged grass beds. Even with large tar balls washing up on the Gulf side, this place reminds me of what the beaches of the Gulf Coast should be…what they can be with diligence and good stewardship.

Residents of the Gulf Coast endure tropical storms and monstrous hurricanes, yet they persevere. People compare the BP oil spill to hurricanes but in reality, there is no comparison. The recovery curve of a hurricane is somewhat predictable. With the oil spill, the Unknown looms as constant stressors. Questions abound–What will be the side-effects of chemical poisoning due to volatile chemicals from the oil and toxic dispersant? How will this effect human life, marine life? Will there be fish and shellfish to harvest from the affected areas in three or four years? How many people will develop cancer? Will there be birth defects in babies? How will the economy in this tourist-driven area recovery? And the list goes on and on.

My visit to the Gulf Coast coincided with Mardi Gras, a time of celebration and fun. At first glance, the idea of documenting the Mardi Gras celebration may seem at odds with my work documenting the BP oil spill and recovery. But one of the things that makes this area so incredible is the people, specifically the resilience of the residents here. There are things to celebrate on the coast. With careful observation, subtle clues of the recovery can be seen….if we pay attention.

May we be diligent in our efforts to stay focused. The subtleties of recovery have much to teach us as do those of struggling ecosystems.

My process when visiting beaches? Stop. Watch. Wait. Observe. I think this could be applied to all aspects of the Gulf Coast Recovery.

March 4, 2011–News from the Gulf, Part Deux

March 4, 2011–News from the Gulf, Part Deux

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Due to high winds and huge waves, I decided to visit the wildlife refuge again to document the process of sand migration as it applies to uncovering and covering the oil shelf that remains at the beach there. When I arrived cleanup workers were being called off the beach due to poor visibility and high surf…I suppose. After a few minutes my sunglasses were completely coated in oily haze.

As I walked, slabs of oil started to be uncovered. As well, the smell of crude oil was almost unbearable today. It reminded me of the summer when this particular beach was heavily oiled.

Over lunch, I chatted with a friend who lives locally. She said that many residents believe the oil is all cleaned up and all is well. It is difficult to believe that people who live along the coast actually believe the oil is gone, but I don’t doubt it a bit. The general consensus, nationally, is the oil spill is over. Media has disappeared for the most part and so the Gulf Coast is no longer news. However, the wildlife refuge beach is still covered in oil. And from time to time the huge shelf disappears, but eventually sand is moved in the natural migration process and voila! Oil emerges from its hiding place.

After my two hour walk on the beach, I neared the boardwalk to return to my car. The major part of the oil shelf was starting to be exposed. I walked on to my vehicle and as I sat and began to take notes, I glanced over to my cameras on the other seat. They were literally DRIPPING with the oily, brown moisture that was being blown from over the Gulf across the beach. I wiped my cameras down with a white napkin and the result was a brown, oily residue on the napkin. I hesitantly wiped my face with a clean napkin and had the same result.

I apologized to my body, especially my lungs, and realized how serious the situation still is in SOME locations. Maybe the chemicals are not as volatile, but if you can smell it and see it, does it not pose some risk? Of course, last year the beaches remained open while children romped in water highly contaminated with crude oil so I do not expect any beach closings at this point. If we all believed the BP web sites and tourist boards we, too, would believe that all is well on the Gulf Coast.

Walk with me…walk and see….I’m just saying…..

Dare to see the truth for yourself.

We Are Masters of Our Destiny

We Are Masters of Our Destiny

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Contrary to what corporations and governments want us to believe, we have the ability to change the world. How sad when we see ourselves as victims….to oil/gas prices, to toxic spills, to a degrading environment. Often I have heard friends say, “I’m only one person…I can’t make a difference, so why bother?”

We have the power to change the world by the choices we make. When we infuse our day with conscious choices, we are influencing the direction of life on our planet. Our choices add to uplifting of the world or its continued degradation.

Nobody ever promised it would be easy. If the mass consciousness is suffocated with fear and anxiety, it takes a strong will to see through this fog and choose a different way. Honestly, it’s much easier to follow the status quo; however, the only way to create change is to actually be the change we want. Taking personal responsibility for every decision, every choice, is a key to creating positive change.

So what will wake us from our collective sleep? What will shake us from the illusion that we cannot make a difference? Another oil spill, gas prices over $5 a gallon in the US? More cuts to programs that add to our civility so more war can be waged over oil in the Middle East? A growing economic gap in the US between the top 1% of wealth-holders and the rest of us? More oil companies (and coal companies…let’s not forget them) telling our government what to do and how high to jump?

WHAT WILL WAKE US FROM OUR SLUMBER?

Each of us has our own, personal tipping-point. Mine was the Gulf Oil Spill. I stayed intentionally and blissfully uninformed of many of the horrors surrounding me….environmental degradation, wars, worldwide population explosions….and on and on ad-naseum. I cared but I did not want to be too informed because of the pain it caused within my mind and heart. But then, BP created an environmental disaster that hit home, literally. And my wake-up call came April 20, 2010.

The past ten months have been difficult as I have witnessed, first-hand, oiled beaches and water, sick wildlife, dead wildlife, and far-too-few clean-up workers removing oil. And now, dolphins aborting their babies and dying in record numbers. The research I have done has only increased my struggles to deal with not only this disaster, but worldwide apathy to the plight of our beautiful planet. The only way I find inner peace and calm is to actively be part of the solution.

It takes ‘muscle’ to remain aware because it is painful to stay informed. Are we willing to work hard to stay awake, aware–conscious. The more of us that make that commitment, the greater our world will be. We are the creators of our destiny.

“What kind of world do you want? Think anything. Let’s start at the start. Build a masterpiece. Be careful what you wish for–History starts now.” Lyrics from “World” by Five for Fighting

BP’s End of Year Report…or…”Look-ie…our profits soared!”

BP’s End of Year Report…or…”Look-ie…our profits soared!”

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April 20, 2010–Deepwater Horizon BP oil well sank and killed 11 workers. Thus began an environmental tragedy, the worst of which we have yet to see. That’s my thought. But to get BP’s thoughts on the matter, I visited their website and viewed their 2010 end-of-year report. I read those sections pertaining to the oil spill and below is information from it, along with my comments.

This image was taken in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico in January 2011. The shelf of oil was thick and extended all along the shoreline. Huge chunks of oil were washed up on the beach (some as large as three feet long by one foot across and 6 inches thick). There were less than 10 workers doing ANYthing on the beach, with most consisting of supervisors riding in four-wheel drive ATV’s. This is BP’s statement from page 3 of their year-end report. “BP and the US Coast Guard are working closely with state and local officials to clean Gulf Coast beaches before the 2011 spring and summer tourism seasons. BP and USCG remain ready to respond if any additional clean-up is required along the Gulf Coast shoreline.”

In the next paragraph I quote, “At the same time, sites, equipment, hired vessels and manpower have been demobilized as and when they are no longer required to support operations. During the fourth quarter, the number of operational sites has reduced from approximately 90 to 79 …. and the number of personnel from approximately 20,000 to approximately 6,200 at the end of the year.” They are indeed laying people off. Another big lay-off occurred in late January. But the oil is STILL THERE on the beach.

One contact I have lives on the Gulf of Mexico beach near Fort Morgan. He and his wife have photographs taken in June and July and very recent photographs. ALL of them contain oil. But…they do not live on a beach frequented by the spring break crowd. And the wildlife refuge is remote and thus is also not a destination for spring break crowds.

This beach is a spring-break destination. Those beaches that will host college students in the spring and later, kids and parents in the summer, are getting deep-cleaning by the large sifters that move huge amounts of sand, screen it through sifters and then return the sand to the shore. Gotta make those tourists think that all is well. Right?!?

BP’s report also cites scientist’s observations of tar mats in shallow, sub-tidal areas. “The federal on-scene commander has directed response teams to focus assessment and recovery efforts on the potentially recoverable near-shore oil.” I might add that if they want to see oil from the shallow, sub-tidal areas, all they need to do is visit a beach after a storm. Rough water stirs the bottom and the oil is dislodged and regurgitated back on the beach. A BP supervisor at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge told me this on my last visit. So why are they laying off all the workers in Alabama? This picture is also taken in January 2011 near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Those boots are a size 9 men’s…not small feel next to the oil chunk washed ashore.

If you are wondering about the claims process, here’s how they break it down in their report. There are three compensation alternatives. 1) A one-time quick pay option of $5,000 for an individual or $25,000 for business (deemed to be eligible). 2) A lump-sum final payment for all documented past, present and future damage. Recipients of both #1 and #2 must sign a release of liability releasing claims against BP and all other potentially liable parties (except claims for bodily injury and mental health injury, unless expressly settled, and claims under securities laws). 3) Quarterly interim payments for documented past damage not previously covered by emergency payments (which do not require execution of a release of liability). 378,103 new individual and business claims were filed in the last quarter of 2010. More than 290,000 claims were denied or judged not eligible for an emergency payment. The ‘trust’ fund paid a condo developer MILLIONS of dollars to complete a condo project while honest, hard-working crabbers, fishermen, and oyster-fishermen were paid nothing. And certainly, not all claims are valid. There are those who will abuse ANY system, but I’m just saying….. Do you have to hire an attorney to qualify for benefits from this ‘trust’ fund?

BP’s fourth quarter profits for 2010 were $4,614 MILLION, compared with $3,447 MILLION a year ago.

BP spent $17.7 billion in 2010 related to the Gulf Oil Spill. This includes money they put into the ‘trust’ fund.

BP holds a 65% working interest in the Macondo well (Deepwater Horizon), with the remaining 35% interest held by two joint venture partners. They are going after (seeking compensation from) their partners to help them cover the cost of their disaster.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 allows for claims against BP and for personal injury to fall into three categories: 1) claims by individuals and businesses for removal costs, damage to real or personal property, lost profits or impairment of earning capacity, loss of subsistence use of natural resources and for personal injury. 2) claims by state and local governments. 3) Claims by United States government. “In addition, BP faces civil litigation in which violations of OPA 90 along with other causes of actions, including personal injury claims and punitive damages, are asserted by individuals, businesses and government entities.”

“Natural Resources Damages claims are payable out of the $20-billion trust fund. These damages include, amongst other things, the reasonable costs of assessing the injury to natural resources.” The studies that BP is ‘funding’ are being paid out of the $20-billion trust fund.

Under the ‘fines and penalties’ section, the report states that the fines are based on the number of barrels of oil released. “This calculation assumes a volume of oil spilled determined using an estimate of the flow rate based on the range of figures published and BP’s own analysis of those ranges, and is based upon BP’s belief that it was not grossly negligent and did not engage in willful misconduct.” So now we understand why BP grossly and intentionally underestimated the amount of oil flowing out from the busted well from the very beginning. Should not that, in and of itself, be a criminal act?

The claims and fines related to OPA 90 will be paid through the $20-billion trust fund. As well, any other obligations related to Natural Resource Damage claims and claims asserted in civil litigation. BP’s report reads, “The establishment of this trust fund does not represent a cap or floor on BP’s liabilities and BP does not admit to a liability of this amount.” I felt my brain twisted like a pretzel after reading that statement. We don’t admit to owing this money nor will we put a cap or floor on this thing….this thing we do not claim to owe.

The end of the year report for BP? They had a greater profit than the year before, they are laying off beach cleaning workers while oil is still thick in places, the studies they are funding and the scientists they ‘bought’ are being paid for from the $20-billion trust fund. TRUST fund….there must be better words for this account…blood money, perhaps?

The Shadows Gather

The Shadows Gather

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Two weeks ago this is how the beach at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge looked…COVERED with a thick shelf of oil. Yesterday the NY Times ran an article with this headline: REPORT FORESEES QUICK GULF OF MEXICO RECOVERY. Does anyone notice a discrepancy in the photograph I took a couple weeks ago and the image Mr. Feinburg is painting of the Gulf Coast?

As I sat finishing my breakfast, I read the article posted on Facebook and about jumped off my chair with anger. The report says the Gulf should recover by the end of 2012. Perhaps they are counting on the Mayan calendar’s expiration and the potential end of the world as we know it to make this prediction. Seriously! I spoke with a wildlife biologist last Saturday and she said it takes a minimum of 3 to 5 years for wildlife populations to show the true picture after an event such as this. Maybe Mr. Feinburg–I mean BP–has resorted to wishful thinking as their modus operandi.

Wes Tunnell, a marine biologist at Texas A & M, wrote the report that said some areas will have fewer fish, shrimp and crab but overall regional 2011 catches for blue crabs, shrimp, oysters and fin fishes should be in line with catches before the spill. By the way, he was paid by BP to write the document. And…he doesn’t offer any estimates on how much hydrocarbon residue is expected to be found in said seafood species. Whatever happened to non-biased scientific data collection? Oh, the oil companies run the country…how silly of me to forget.

From the beginning of the spill I have thought the Coast Guard to be a puppet of BP…of oil corporations. From watching Rear Admiral Mary Landree mindlessly nod her head in press briefings by Doug Suttles, the BP spokesperson during the spill, to this latest bogus report by scientists funded by BP (isn’t that in itself a conflict of interest?)…the Coast Guard agrees with anything BP says. Again…I cry FOUL! and….WAKE UP AMERICA!

A voice of sanity is included in the Times article. Dr. James Cowan, a biological oceanographer at LSU said his group has found “troubling signs of apparent oil damage” to shrimp and fish. “In my mind, the long-term, indirect effects are going to be the most insidious and also the most difficult to ascertain,” he said.

This past summer I witnessed local government officials laughing at ‘dumb tourists’ swimming (yes….I have video footage) in crude oil. I heard one mayor say ‘we have to get the clean-up workers off the beach during the day…it is scaring the tourists’ (yep…got THAT on video as well). So should we be surprised at the continued denial of the damage that was done and how it continues to affect the Gulf Coast? Absolultely NOT! No surprise here. So how can an article like this help us? It can give us a renewed sense of purpose to ensure the light of truth be presented through reporting true stories, showing images and video, and through voices that are LIVING IT. Let the TRUTH dispel the shadows before they completely cover-up the real story of what is happening along the Gulf Coast.

This shows a block of hardened crude oil washed ashore mid-January 2011. Who said the oil is gone? It’s over? Hardly any workers were to be seen with hundreds of tons of crude oil imbedded in the beach in the wildlife refuge. BP has not even cleaned up the mess yet they are claiming within two years everything will be great, back to normal? This is the height of insanity.