Tag: gulf oil spill

Though BP has continued to deny that any of its gulf wells are leaking oil, a large-scale oil slick reported in the area is worrying Gulf Coast watchdogs. Concerns abound that the oil could spell trouble for area fisheries, especially since reports of dead dolphins have persisted in recent days.

Reports of a spreading oil slick near British Petroleum’s Maconda well about 40 miles from shore in the Gulf of Mexico have local residents and area scientists concerned. BP has yet to confirm or deny the reports and mainstream media outlets have so far avoided investigating the story.

A recent report by OpenSecrets shows that several high-profile lawmakers (including GOP Reps. Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack of Florida) dumped their stock in BP and Transocean following last year’s massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Both Republicans and Democrats gave up significant portions of their holdings in the companies, according to the analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has responded to reports from over the weekend that BP is set to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and that Transocean, the contractor responsible for BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig, awarded bonuses to its top executives, in part as a reward for “the best year in safety performance in our company’s history.”

Despite the Gulf oil spill, a massive pipeline break in Michigan and broad concerns about global warming, ambitious climate-change and energy legislation is likely dead for the year. That poses a conundrum, going forward, for environmentalists: How to convince lawmakers of the need for legislation to sever the country’s decades-long ties to oil and to reform energy policy more generally?

The recently launched Florida Independent, another of the Colorado Independent's sister sites, posted a new regular feature this afternoon. Contributor Travis Pillow (That's his...

British Petroleum has failed repeatedly for more than a month to cap the gushing oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico....