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Originally Posted by kd3pc
In
would definitely be interested in the retest clip if you see it..
I guess my only question is why do you all (we, too) have to learn this from a TV news person? Where is that infamous EPA group, and no Don I am not kicking them again... I just fail to understand what it IS that they do...?
During 9/11 they proclaimed with great authority that the air was good around the recovery site for months. it wasn't...
they recently proclaimed that the dispersant (corexit, I think?) was on their safe list and OK's it's use for BP....until they did use to the tune of several million gallons, then the EPA backed up and stopped it's use...
They have recently banned independent research ships, even a NOAA ship from looking for more leaks along the path of the Deep well, as well as the two recovery wells.
What do those folks do?
thanks for the clip...we don't get to see these kinds of things here in the Mid-atlantic. I would love to see that lady do a test of Chesapeake, Delaware, and LI sound - just for sanity sake....
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This is not an issue of semantics but just to state it correctly, there is no such thing as a safe dispersant and there is no such thing as a "safe list" okay to use.
EPA maintains a list of pre-approved dispersants which exists for only two purposes 1. - to cut down on the already paralyzing bureaucratic process for using a dispersant which inherently would preclude their use in a timely fashion if it is deemed appropriate by the OSC.
2. To avoid the snake oil salesman showing up at the CG's doorstep every oil spill trying to convince them to use their stuff (which also wastes everyone's time).
There is only one prerequisite for a company to have their product included in the list - a comprehensive chemical composition summary. EPA does not limit inclusion to this list in any way other than to ensure they now what the components are and instead leave the decision on use entirely up to the CG and their scientific support staff.
It is ultimately up to the discretion of the USCG OSC to allow dispersant use. EPA's pre-approved list serves only to limit the decision-making process timeframe as time is of the essence when one recognizes it's efficacy is entirely dependent on the oil being fresh by providing the chemical data to the decision-makers.
EPA or the CG never stopped their use but did, because it was being used in such vast quantities, ask BP to slow down the application rate which they did.
I know nothing about anyone banning research ships from exploration of the area and especially not NOAA which is part of the response team but I am aware of the CG's restrictions on sightseeing, news media et al who either present a danger, hazard or obstacle to on-going cleanup. By the way, the exclusion zone spans a grand total of 70 yards from on-going cleanup activities - personally, I find 70 yards hardly an impediment to news media access as they claim.
With respect to the WTC air monitoring, EPA's air sampling program was outside the perimeter of the building collapses and intended to monitor ambient air for the general public outside the perimeter.