The oil slick floating on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico for ten days now reached the coasts of Louisiana, south of the United States, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, according to the President of Plaquemines County Billy Nungesser. Tuesday, April 20 last, an offshore platform, located seventy kilometers offshore and operated by British Petroleum (BP) has exploded. She sank two days later in the Gulf of Mexico.
At the same time, three leaks in the main well of the deposit spread over 5,000 daily barrels of crude, or about 800,000 liters. The environmentalists fear a worst ecological disasters and economic developments of recent years in the United States. The marshes of the State of New Orleans is the most populous city, is a sanctuary for wildlife. The presentation includes numerous species of birds, crustaceans, fish etc..
The fishing industry is in the front line against this threat. This oil spill worries all the neighboring states may also be affected as Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. 40% of seafood consumed in the United States occurred on this coast.
The U.S. authorities - Barack Obama announced he was appealing to the army - and BP are activated to minimize the consequences of leakage. They set fire to the oil slick that spread yesterday about 74,000 square kilometers, the equivalent of two and a half times Belgium. The medium-term solutions are being considered for oil still leaking from the well. BP tells of a cover placed over the pit, or when the deposit will be fully recapped using a special coating.
The Times Picayune reported that the locals feel the smell of oil floating off. Health authorities conduct extensive tests of air quality. If the oil content was too high it could cause headaches, nausea and vomiting.
Call for large companies
The influential American Edward Markey Democrat on Thursday urged the owners of the five largest global oil companies to come to discuss energy policy to Congress. He believes that "it is time that Americans hear the oil companies on the health of our economy and the health of our environment"Mr. Markey has sent a note Thursday to bosses of Exxon Mobil, BP, ConocoPhillips, Shell and Chevron. He asked them to appear "soon" before the Sub-Committee on Energy Independence and global warming which he chairs. No date has yet been set.
Beyond the environmental disaster, affecting the second five years in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Markey wants to deal with these patterns the issue of oil dependence and rising prices. Growth that is associated with increased company profits. Mr. Markey, co-author with Henry Waxman's bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the House of Representatives in June, hopes his message will be heard.
William Bur with Belga.
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