BP: Oil Leak Could be Stopped by Next Week - CNN

I love how Larry King jumps right down Bo Dudley's throat.
"Why so late with us seeing those films, and what's the story with the 5,000 barrels?"
Doesn't even say "hello." Love it.

Bo Dudley is the BP Managing Director right now, and people aren't loving him. BP has finally acknowledged what people have been fearing: the leak is bigger than they thought. They declined, however, to estimate exactly how much bigger that is. That's okay, other people will tell us:

Steve Wereley, a professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, told CNN's "American Morning" that the spill could be as big as 20,000 to 100,000 barrels a day.

Ugh.

"I think now we are beginning to understand that we cannot trust BP. People do not trust the experts any longer," said Congress Representative Ed Markey, who leads a House subcommittee investigating the spill. "BP has lost all credibility. Now the decisions will have to be made by others, because it is clear that they have been hiding the actual consequences of this spill."

The Obama administration has ordered BP to release all of its data related to the oil spill. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson stated in a letter to BP Group CEO Tony Hayward that "The public and the United States government are entitled to nothing less than complete transparency in this matter," and I agree! They are the ones that will have to deal with the lasting effects of the spill. What does BP care? They're not even based in the United States. (BP = British Petroleum, just in case anyone didn't know)

The EPA is concerned that the chemical dispersant BP has chosen is too toxic for use in the volumes needed. Corexit 9500 has been known to cause skin and eye irritation, as well as irritation of the respiratory tract. BP has been instructed to pick another of the EPA's 18 approved dispersants, and should be applying it within the next day or two. EPA stated:

"Because of its use in unprecedented volumes and because much is unknown about the underwater use of dispersants, EPA wants to ensure BP is using the least toxic product authorized for use. We reserve the right to discontinue the use of this dispersant method if any negative impacts on the environment outweigh the benefits."

BP's next move is to try to plug up the leak with a heavy liquid/mud substance. If this works, the well will be cemented shut and closed down.

BP has posted live footage of the leak from an ROV monitoring the site. You can see that here, or just go to http://www.bp.com and click on the "live stream" link. While you're there, check out how BP has put together a nice little slideshow of all the "good" they're doing to help the situation. It's funny, downplaying the event and lying about what's actually going on isn't in there. They must have forgotten.

When asked when this will all end, Bo Dudley only mentioned that it was being worked on and that "You have to do this without emotion." Check.


Full article here (CNN)
I believe this link is continually updated, or at least it has been up until now, so this will be a good one to keep checking.