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Secretary Alan Levine of the Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Secretary
Peggy Hatch, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Secretary Robert Barham sent a letter to British Petroleum today
outlining their concerns related to potential dispersant impact on
Louisiana's wildlife and fisheries, environment and public health.
Officials are also requesting BP release information on the effects of
the dispersants they are using to combat the oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico.
We
applaud these Louisiana State officials for taking these steps to
protect the health and safety of Gulf Coast communities and the Gulf
environment. And we too believe that it is important that BP provide
all of the information that they can.
However, the BP Deepwater
Horizon disaster is an unprecedented event. Never has this much of this
kind of crude oil been spilled into these specific environs and with
large quantities of these specific chemical dispersants used. Due to
the unprecedented nature of this event we do not believe that BP or any
other entity can adequately answers these questions.
The health
of our people and the integrity of the Gulf environments are too
precious to leave up to guesses or limited scientific knowledge. There
must be a coordinated and unified investigation of the environmental
impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster involving all of the
appropriate Federal and State agencies in partnership with any relevant
members of the private sector including researchers from universities
and environmental organizations. It is also imperative that this be a
transparent process that incorporates the on-the-ground knowledge and
observations of local citizens.
The full text of the letter is below.
May 7, 2010
Mr. Tony Hayward
Chief Executive Officer
British Petroleum
Dear Mr. Hayward:
The BP-Transocean drilling incident and resulting oil spill has created
massive challenges for BP, the federal government and for the State of
Louisiana. We all agree with the primary goal of protecting our
sensitive coastal areas and the health and safety of our people. We
encourage you to continue making these issues the priority.
As heads of Louisiana's agencies that oversee public health,
environmental quality and wildlife and fisheries, including the
commercial seafood and oyster industry, we have serious concerns about
the lack of information related to the use of dispersants in fighting
the oil spill at and below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, and what,
if any, impact the dispersants could have on our people, water and air
quality, as well as the wildlife, fisheries and vegetation of
Louisiana's coastline and wetlands.
It is important we better understand the science behind the use of
these chemicals. Our fishing industry will have much work to do to
rebuild its brand when the oil spill is finally contained. We must be
able to assure the public of the safety and reliability of our seafood
product, and must be able to ensure the viability of wildlife and
vegetation along our coast. To do so, we must have a better
understanding of the potential impact and consequences of the use of
these dispersants. Some specific questions include:
- What are the acute short-term health risks for humans and
wildlife in proximity of the areas to which dispersants are being
applied, with respect to the mode of delivery and concentrations
being used?
- What are the potential long-term effects on humans and
wildlife in areas where dispersants are applied?
- What is the expected timeframe for the return of wildlife to
pre-event levels?
- What is the effect of dispersants on the oil and how is
dispersant-treated oil expected to move through Gulf waters, and
what is the expected impact on seafood harvest areas to which the
dispersant treated oil may have traveled?
We also have longer-term questions and concerns that need to be
addressed:
- What is the half-life of the dispersant chemicals in the
marine environment?
- What is BP's plan to monitor the impact of dispersants on
the environment, people, and wildlife over time?
- What resources will BP make available to restore the
wetlands and fisheries that may be harmed by the dispersants?
Three days ago, in a Unified Command Group meeting that included a
BP representative, Secretary Barham requested studies to support usage
of the dispersants. As of now, the state has not received the requested
information. We are again requesting data, analysis and studies of the
effects of oil spill dispersants used, and most importantly, a BP
commitment that the dispersants being used to fight the oil spill will
not cause irreparable, short-term or long-term harm to our wetlands,
coast, environment, marine life, wildlife or people. Please submit to
us (1) any reports, studies or data either in BP's possession or
conducted by BP on the impact of dispersants, and (2) any plans BP has
to assist Louisiana in mitigating any negative effects on our
environment, health, wildlife and fisheries.
The state is committed to ensuring a long-term solution is put in
place to provide the public with confidence in the safety of our
products. Our state and seafood industry must have a long-term
commitment from BP to establish and sustain an initiative to ensure
this is the case.
We look forward to your immediate response.
Sincerely,
Alan Levine
Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
Peggy Hatch
Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Robert Barham
Secretary, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
cc: Doug Suttles, COO, BP Global (Robert EOC)
Mike Utsler, Senior VP, BP Alaska Operations (Houma EOC)
Lisa Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., Director, U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Margaret Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
Support this vital work today!
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LEAN is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization Louisiana
Environmental Action Network (LEAN) is a non-profit organization
working to foster communication and cooperation among citizens and
groups to address Louisiana's environmental problems.
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