Monday, May 30, 2011

NOAA confirms sick fish in Gulf

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is standing by its declaration that the Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe to eat, but for the first time it's warning anglers that some fish are sick and may pose health problems if handled or eaten raw.

The agency is telling anglers to toss fish that have lesions, fin rot or discolored skin back into the Gulf and to be careful about handling them. This warning comes just one week before the June 1 opening of recreational red snapper season.

READ MORE AT THIS LINK:

FROM THE SIDEBAR:
If you catch a sick fish, NOAA advises anglers to:

» Release the fish back into the water with minimal to no handling. Use a fishhook-remover device. Avoid contact with skin, especially if you have cuts or sores on your skin. 

» Document where you caught the fish, and if possible, photograph it. A website is being developed on which anglers may post their findings. 

»Anglers are not advised to keep the sick fish because of the risks of the fish transmitting disease to humans. 

»If you bring in a red snapper with lesions, it does count toward your fishing quota.

For more details, go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov, where NOAA will post a notice of the sick fish, guidelines and other details in the next day or two.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Gulf of Mexico Citizen Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations to the Gulf of Mexico Citizen Advisory Committee (GMCAC)

May 26, 2011 (FIND, Inc. via COMTEX) -- SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Gulf of Mexico Citizen Advisory Committee (GMCAC). Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by August 30, 2011. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may also be utilized in soliciting nominees.

Background: The GMCAC is a Federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 920463 5 U.S.C. App.2. EPA is establishing the Gulf of Mexico Citizen Advisory Committee (GMCAC) to provide independent citizen advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental issues affecting the five Gulf of Mexico Coastal States. Members serve as representatives of citizens and citizen groups. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for a two or three-year term with a possibility of reappointment to a second term. The GMCAC usually is expected to meet as needed, but at least quarterly, and the average workload for the members is approximately 3 to 5 hours per month. EPA may provide reimbursement for travel and other incidental expenses [Page Number 30706] associated with official government business. EPA is seeking nominations of citizens from the five Gulf Coastal States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. EPA values and welcomes diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, EPA encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups. Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of several criteria, including: . The background and experiences that would help members contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the committee (e.g., geographic, economic, social, cultural, educational, and other considerations).

Interpersonal, oral and written communications, and consensus-building skills. Ability to volunteer time to attend meetings, participate in teleconference meetings, attend listening sessions with the Administrator or other senior level officials, develop policy recommendations to the Administrator, and prepare reports and advice letters. Nominations should include a resume and a short biography describing how the nominee meets the above criteria and other information that may be helpful in evaluating the nomination, as well as the nominee's current business address, e-mail address, and daytime telephone number. Interested candidates may self-nominate.

To help the Agency in evaluating the effectiveness of its outreach efforts, please tell us how you learned of this opportunity.

ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to Gloria D. Car, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Program Office, Mail Code EPA/GMPO, Building 1100, Room 232, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529. You may also e-mail nominations with subject line COMMITTEERESUME2011 to car.gloria@epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gloria D. Car, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. EPA, Gulf of Mexico Program Office at (228) 688-2421 or fax (228) 688- 2709 or e-mail car.gloria@epa.gov.

Dated: May 19, 2011.

Gloria D. Car, Designated Federal Officer.

[FR Doc. 2011-13104 Filed 5-25-11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P Vol. 76, No. 102 [FRL-9311-5] Notices

THE MASSES NEED TO SEE THESE PICTURES! Dolphins are One Rung Down on the Food Chain from Humans!

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These pictures were taken by Lori DeAngelis. If the dolphins are dying in droves, what in the world is happening to the human element with all of this?
Americans need to be OUTRAGED! And they also need to be concerned about their health! Still sure ya wanna eat that fried catfish or barbecued shrimp?
And the chum from all of this is sold as feed for the fish and meat farms.
The Facebook Photo Album:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.194108180625424.37030.100000787310232

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

What is happening in Louisiana? EXCLUSIVE: WILL NEW ORLEANS FLOOD? ARMY CORPS SLIPS UP! Great Flood of 2011 (VIDEO)

Skip ahead to 2:40 to hear the Army Corps tell someone to evacuate New Orleans!

After hearing numerous stories and rumors about what areas the massive flooding along the Mississippi River was impacting, RealStreamedia along with Sara Galliano went to check it out in Lousiana to ask the real questions.

Visit Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RealStreaMedia/185594851493427

Monday, May 23, 2011

BP Reaches $1B Settlement With Gulf Well Partner Over Oil Disaster


11 dead? There are so many sick from toxic exposure, 12 more in a vibrio cholera outbreak in Apalachico­la, FL...go ahead folks, yum, yum, eat them oysters up! People are sick from not only the oil but the dispersant­s used in the Gulf, the waters were carpet bombed with the poisons to borrow the words of Congressma­n Markey. Ask yourselves this question: how come the dispersant­s are still being sprayed (by military and contracted aircraft)? When are our leaders and the corporatio­ns going to take responsibi­lity for the sick people, the dead dolphins, whales and other marine life, the dead zone Gulf of Toxico, the crashed economy and the environmen­t for future generation­s? Our leaders need to be held accountabl­e for allowing this to happen...
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Video Taken of Oil on the beaches of Applachicola, Florida 5/11/11. My friend Trisha, RN and Scientist Speaks!

Oil Under the Gulf of Mexico Sand - Bio Remediation of the Gulf Oil Spill Bioremediation is all about cleaning up oil and water and the bioremediation in the Gulf of Mexico right now is a major concern and will be for some time to come. In this video we're cleaning up some samples of oil beneath the sandy beaches in Apalachicoloa Florida where waves laden with oil have lapped against the sand, which filters the oil and settles inches below. Our Baad Bugs Brand of BioRem 2000 remediates (not disperses) the oil virtually immediately. It does so safely, quickly and, as you'll see, even a child can touch it and not be harmed in the least. Special guest speaker scientist and Registered Nurse Patricia Springstead speaks.


***Still wanna eat that Gulf Seafood? Or sunbathe on the beach? Or let your children make sandcastles?

BIG OIL CORPORATISM EXPOSED!

Traitor president leads New Gulf War: Officially authorized bioterrorism

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Peter Fonda calls Obama ‘f*cking traitor’ over Gulf spill

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CANNES, France — Peter Fonda launched a four-letter attack on US President Barack Obama at the Cannes film festival on Wednesday, calling him a traitor over the handling of the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill.

The star of the 1969 road movie "Easy Rider" was in Cannes for the premiere of "The Big Fix" by Rebecca and Josh Tickell, the only feature documentary in the official selection at the Cannes film festival this year.

Fonda -- a keen environmentalist and co-producer of the film which centres on the explosion of the BP oil rig Deepwater Horizon, the ensuing spill and its consequences -- accused Washington of trying to gag reporting on the issue.

"I sent an email to President Obama saying, 'You are a f(expletive) traitor,' using those words... 'You're a traitor, you allowed foreign boots on our soil telling our military -- in this case the coastguard -- what they can and could not do, and telling us, the citizens of the United States, what we could or could not do'."

READ MORE AT THE LINK:

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Yes, They Lied; Yes, a Million Died; and Yes, They Want It To Go On

Media_httpwwwchrisflo_bcuya
WRITTEN BY CHRIS FLOYD
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2011 21:19
Why have a million innocent people been killed in Iraq by the cataclysm unleashed by the Anglo-American invasion and occupation? Here's why:
A top military intelligence official has said the discredited dossier on Iraq's weapons programme was drawn up "to make the case for war", flatly contradicting persistent claims to the contrary by the Blair government, and in particular by Alastair Campbell, the former prime minister's chief spin doctor. In hitherto secret evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, Major General Michael Laurie said: "We knew at the time that the purpose of the dossier was precisely to make a case for war, rather than setting out the available intelligence, and that to make the best out of sparse and inconclusive intelligence the wording was developed with care."
Laurie, who was director general in the Defence Intelligence Staff, responsible for commanding and delivering raw and analysed intelligence, said: "I am writing to comment on the position taken by Alastair Campbell during his evidence to you … when he stated that the purpose of the dossier was not to make a case for war; I and those involved in its production saw it exactly as that, and that was the direction we were given." ...
Laurie said he recalled that the chief of defence intelligence, Air Marshal Sir Joe French, was "frequently inquiring whether we were missing something" and was under pressure. "We could find no evidence of planes, missiles or equipment that related to WMD [weapons of mass destruction], generally concluding that they must have been dismantled, buried or taken abroad. There has probably never been a greater detailed scrutiny of every piece of ground in any country." ...
The document is one of a number released by the Chilcot inquiry. They include top secret MI6 reports warning of the damage to British interests and the likelihood of terrorist attacks in the UK if it joined the US-led invasion of Iraq. However, a newly declassified document reveals that Sir Kevin Tebbit, then a top official at the Ministry of Defence, warned the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, in January 2003 that the US would "feel betrayed by their partner of choice" if Britain did not go along with the invasion.
Read more at the link:
http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2127-yes-t...

Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Parallel Universe of the Gulf Oil Threat | Rocky Kistner's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

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There’s a parallel universe in the Gulf these days. In one, the water’s clear, the beaches clean and the seafood's as sublime as ever. The other is the one I witnessed last month, a world many fear may be closer to the truth.

I had been attending a rally—the Big Oil Panty Protest to be exact—in Grand Isle, ground zero for the BP oil assault and a spit of sand and beach town sticking out from Louisiana’s most southern coast. It was a beautiful Gulf morning when I decided to take a walk on the beach at Grand Isle State Park. The sand was warming and the ocean water was muddy but calm. A flock of seabirds gathered on a nearby sandbar. Except for an orange plastic fence blocking off part of the beach, all appeared normal. Several families and their children had plopped down their towels and umbrellas. The kids eagerly jumped in the waves.

But the beach scene was soon to change. A uniformed park ranger packing a 9 mm pistol and a broad-brimmed hat marched through the sand towards us, clearly on a mission. “Excuse me but everyone here needs to get off the beach,” he barked. “This beach is closed.”

The family vacationers approached the officer incredulously. “Why,” they asked. “We just got here. There aren’t any signs?”

“The beach is closed because there’s still oil and tar balls coming in,” the officer said in a polite but stern voice. “It’s not safe to be here.”

See the whole story at this link:
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rkistner/a_parallel_universe_of_the_oil.html

The Real Info on Fukishima--Meltdown is Taking Place--"Lamestream" Media is Blacking Out the Story!

Radiation Levels Higher Than Chernobyl Evacuation Limits Span Over 800 KM in Japan:
http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/05/13/radiation-levels-higher-chernobyl-evacuation-limits-span-800-km-japan-22734/

Every Major U.S. City Graph - EPA RADNET Real Time Japan Nuclear Radiation Monitoring:
http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/04/12/realtime-epa-radnet-japan-nuclear-radiation-monitoring-every-us-city-single-page-16511/

Friday, May 13, 2011

Florida Congressmen Clash on Offshore Drilling

See the whole story at this link:
David Rivera leads the charge while Corrine Brown wants no drilling in eastern Gulf
BY: KEVIN DERBY | POSTED: MAY 12, 2011 3:55 AM
TAGS: 

Members of the Florida congressional delegation clashed Wednesday as the U.S. House of Representatives started kicking over three bills that emerged last week out of the Committee on Natural Resources. All three focused on energy.

Republicans who control the House are advancing the bills -- which would expand offshore energy production -- and they insist that this will lead to relief for Americans plagued by high gas prices. The House leadership has dubbed the three collectively "the American Energy Initiative."

“Since last year, American domestic oil production has decreased by 16 percent and gas prices are at upward of $4 per gallon,” said Florida Republican Congressman David Rivera, a member of the Natural Resources Committee. “Consumers see the effects of rising fuel costs in their daily lives, and my constituents are being squeezed by these rising prices. The Obama administration does not seem to have a coherent plan to expand supplies and help ease price pressure, but House Republicans do.”

Representatives David Rivera and Corrine Brown
Representatives David Rivera and Corrine BrownHide

Congress grills big oil on subsidies


 
America's Big Five oil companies were in Congress today, and although they champion the free market, their CEOs were on Capitol Hill to defend something very different—$4 billion worth of tax incentives, credits and subsidies. But few see Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips and BP America—who raked in a collective $35 billion in the first quarter of 2011 alone—as the most vulnerable Americans. Congress is expected to vote on the Repeal Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act, which would cut the subsidies and save Americans $21 billion over 10 years, next week. Oil companies are among the biggest lobbying groups in the US—Chevron paid $12.9 million in lobbying dollars in 2010; ExxonMobil $12.4 million; ConocoPhillps $19.6 million and BP America $7.3 million, much of it going to the same senators who will vote on whether to cut the subsidies.

Ian R Crane interview on Russia Today



Russia Today interview with Ian R Crane on deep geo politics & false flag events, including the smokescreen for seizing Libyan oil, the Bin Laden deception and depopulation in the Gulf of Mexico...

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories - Okaloosa County Tarballs

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1991410873817&set=a.1039542277697.7849...
OKALOOSA COUNTY - What appears to be weathered tar washed up along the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Walton Beach today.
Video from the boat marina on Highway 98.
The owner says he's seen a few tarballs over the last several days.
This morning his crew found a large wash-up when they came to work.
They say it's several inches deep around some of the pilings.
Wednesday, May 11 2011, 10:02 PM EDT

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

DON'T EAT THE OYSTERS--US cholera outbreak affects 11

2011-05-11 08:05

Miami - As many as 11 people have reported getting sick from eating raw oysters contaminated with cholera bacteria in northern Florida, officials said on Tuesday.

The oysters came from Apalachicola Bay, near Panama City in northern Florida, about 482km from New Orleans along the Gulf of Mexico coast, and the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning not to eat them.

State officials said 11 cases of illness were reported, while the FDA said eight of those have so far been confirmed as "caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75... No one was hospitalized or died".

The high number of cases is unusual, given that the Centres for Disease Control typically logs one to two cases per year, said an FDA spokesperson.

MORE AT THE LINK:

http://www.news24.com/World/News/US-cholera-outbreak-affects-11-20110511

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hillsborough County issues air pollution advisory

Water

Hillsborough County (Tampa Metro) issues air pollution advisory

Posted: 5:36 PM
  • By: Gregg Burrage
TAMPA - The Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County has issued an Air Pollution Advisory due to high levels of the pollutant ozone.
The advisory became effective at 3:00 pm today, Tuesday, May 10, when ozone levels reached 66 PPB for an 8 hour average at the Simmons Park air monitoring station.
That average is forecasted to persist at a high level resulting in an eight hour average greater than the new standard of 75 ppb. A level of 76 PPB for an eight hour average translates to an Air Quality Index of 101.   Air Quality Index values from 101 - 150 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The EPA says conditions which led to Tuesday's elevated levels are likely to persist through Wednesday evening, so the advisory will remain in effect until dusk tomorrow.
Individuals with pre-existing respiratory ailments, the elderly, or the very young may want to take this into consideration when planning any outside activities.
If you have any questions or need further information, call The Environmental Protection Commission, Air Management Division Tom Tamanini (813) 363-8815.
SEE MORE AT THE LINK:
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_hillsborough/hillsborough-county-issues-air-pollution-advisory

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Radioactive Water Pumped Into Mississippi River (VIDEO)

http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2011/may/02/radioactive-substance-found-mississippi-river-ar-1793435/




By WJTV Staff
Published: May 02, 2011
» 0 Comments | Post a Comment
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating a radioactive release into the Mississippi River from the Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant in Port Gibson.
A spokesperson from Grand Gulf tells News Channel 12 that they found standing water in an abandoned unit.
In an effort to remove the standing water, Entergy began pumping the water out and into a drain that emptyed into the Mississippi River.
A censor went off detecting the chemical "tritium" in the standing water.
NRC officials say the River has diluted the radioactive material and is not causing harm to the people.
Right now the incident is under investigation by the NRC.
Entergy officials tell News Channel 12 they are not sure of the source of the tritium.
There's no word on how much Tritum was pumped into the river.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

16 pilot whales strand off Florida Keys

16 pilot whales strand off Florida Keys


In this Thursday, May 5, 2011, photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Art Coakley of the Marine Mammal Conservancy tends to two stranded pilot whales in shallow waters near Cudjoe Key, Fla. At least 15 pilot whales stranded Thursday afternoon in the lower Florida Keys, marine mammal responders said. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Mariela Care)

Associated Press
Published: Friday, May 6, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, May 6, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.
CUDJOE KEY - Marine mammal rescuers are tending to six of about 16 pilot whales that are stranded in shallow waters off the lower Florida Keys.
Art Cooper of the Marine Mammal Conservancy says the whales are in stable but guarded condition Friday after responders were able to construct a temporary sea pen and relocate them. Veterinarians are providing medical evaluations.
The whales were found stranded Thursday afternoon in three separate areas in shallow Gulf of Mexico waters near Cudjoe Key. Two animals died and rescuers have begun searching for others outside the pen that were spotted before darkness fell.
Officials hope to eventually relocate any surviving whales to the Marine Mammal Conservancy's rehabilitation facility in Key Largo.
AP video at link: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20110506/WIRE/110509686/2416/NEWS?Title=16-pilot-whales-strand-off-Florida-Keys

Friday, May 6, 2011

TRUTH!!! by Michelle Nix

There is an apparent break down in our governmental regulatory agencies in various aspects, from recognizing the need for new standards, to implementing new standards, all the way to an inability to uphold already existent standards, in safety, human health and environmental regulations.

The government has authorized the use of chemical dispersants, exempted environmental impact statements, and given the categorical exclusions that potentially led to the DWH incident, all the while allowing BP to avoid the full liability for the possible human health and environmental impacts that these authorizations have left behind.

On June 13 of 1979, a rig called the Ixtoc blew in the GOM spewing a thousand barrels of crude oil daily. We used the same techniques in the DWH spill that were used in response to the Ixtoc 32 year prior, from spraying chemical dispersants, using similar capping techniques, deploying miles of boom, all the way down to having a similar blow-out-preventer as the one used in the DWH spill. The drilling at that time was done by a company called Said-Co, Said-CO later became Transocean. The Ixtoc operation was in 200 foot of water and the DWH was at 5,000 feet. We shouldn’t be using the same shallow water oil response regulations from 1979 as we do for deep water drilling now.
  
The DWH rig was flagged under Marshal Islands. When the Coast Guard inspects a (MODU) Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit flagged for the Marshal Islands, the inspection takes only about 4 to 6 hours. Under U.S safety regulations it takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Transocean operates 15 MODU’s in the U.S and all of them are flagged foreign. Transocean’s top executive received a pay raise of more than a million dollars. Transocean distributed bonus’s on safety and called 2010 statistically their best year for safety performance in the company’s history.
  
BP avoided doing an environmental impact statement, they lobbied for the GOM project and got approval without doing the proper planning to put an environmental statement in place. The MMS exempted BP from environmental reviews, inspections and even the development of a comprehensive oil spill response plan. In an analytical exploration plan, BP called a spill at the DWH site unlikely, so when BP sought permission to drill the DWH site, the MMS went along with BP and gave the company a quote; “categorical exclusion from a more strenuous environmental impact study.” The MMS exempted the DWH rig only days before the explosion occurred taking the lives of the 11 men aboard that vessel on April 20 2010.
  
President Obama has stated himself that for years there has been a scandalously close relationship between oil companies and the agencies that regulate them. And that quote, “industries cozy and sometimes corrupt relationship with government regulators has meant little or no regulation at all.“ President Obama stated that the “Administration has decided to separate the people who permit the drilling, from these who regulate and insure the safety of the drilling.” The MMS was collecting revenue that was generated by oil drilling as well as issuing the permits for safety regulations. So they were able to regulate the oil industry and at the same time profit from it. Why was it only after this spill that the problem was acknowledged ?

It was reported in the NY Times September of 2008 that the MMS was implicated in cocaine use, sexual misconduct, and excepting gifts from the energy companies they regulate. The Inspector General Inquiry posted in the NY Times states the industry officials would fill out their own inspection sheets in pencil and then regulators traced it over in their own pen, before submitting them. The regulatory arm that approves or denies new drilling wells should never be the same arm responsible for collecting the rent on those wells.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) records show that in the 3 to 4 years prior to the DWH incident, BP had 760 willful egregious safety violations. Exxon Mobile only had 1 violation during this same time period. That means Exxon could receive 70 times the egregious safety violations, and would have still been 90% safer than BP. What is the reasoning behind allowing these kinds of safety gaps?
  
BP leads the U.S. refining industry in deaths over the last decade. In September of 2004, at BP’s Texas City refinery, a faulty pipe killed 2 men and seriously injuring a third. On March 23, 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at the same Texas City refinery, killing 15 workers and injuring more than 170 others. “The fact that Texas City has had repeated fatalities and repeated fines is a sign of potential trouble within BP,” said Charles Jeffress, a former director of OSHA. OSHA accused BP of a "willful" violation of its rules that led to the accident. More than 10 times as many people have died in BP refineries then in those owned by Exxon Mobil Corp., considered the company's major U.S.-based peer.
OSHA has an Enhanced Enforcement program that "zeroes in on employers with the gravest violations who have failed to take their safety and health responsibilities seriously," said Jonathan Snare, then Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA.“BP is the only major oil company on that list.“ stated John Miles, OSHA’s then regional director. All of this has transpired, yet BP still receives exceptions and exclusions for environmental impact, oil spill response, resulting in the lose of lives and potentially endangering Human Health and the environment.

BP did not release the footage of the oil spill until 3 weeks after the spill occurred, and even then they did not release the High Def footage they had in their possession since the beginning of the disaster, making it harder for scientist to figure out the a scope of the flow rate, and extent of the spill. They did however release a High Def version of their commercials to inform the public of how prompt the efforts are and how BP will make it right.

There were giant oil plumes that BP denied the existence of, but the government confirmed that there were plums of oil found thousands of feet below the surface as deep as 32,000 feet. Some were as wide as 6 miles, 22 miles long and 3,300 feet thick. On May 31 of 2010, then CEO Tony Hayward stated that the oil was on the surface and there weren’t any plumes. BP’s COO Doug Suttlels denies the existence of plums and said quote, “ they haven’t found any large concentrations of oil, and that it may be down to how you define what a plume is.”

All the while BP has spent millions upon millions, on PR campaigns, and purchasing search terms on major search engines such as Goggle and Yahoo. Yet NONE has been spent for testing or treatment of gulf residents suffering from possible chemical exposure. Oil companies are allowed to privatize profits while transferring risk to the public.

Prior to the DWH incident there were no scientific documented evidence that dispersant would work on a spill of this magnitude. BP choose the petroleum-based dispersant Corexit, one of the most toxic and least effective on Louisiana sweet crude spills according to the EPA’s own pre-approved list.

The National Academy of Sciences issued a report in 2005 on the Efficacy and Effects of oil spill dispersants. It outlined numerous aspects of oil dispersants that are inadequately understood, such as quote “the mechanisms of both acute and sub-lethal toxicity from exposure to dispersed oil.” The National Academy of Science went on to state quote, “the current understandings of key processes and mechanisms is inadequate, to confidently support the decision to apply dispersants.”

Why did the EPA have no base line levels of toxicity? NOAA only recently has started recording baseline in response to the DWH spill. Why did EPA not take into account the acute and chronic effects from dispersant and dispersed oil on human health and the environment? And who has sole liability for the use of these dispersants in response to the DWH incident.

Corexit is 2.61 in toxicity which means it’s very highly toxic, and it has an effectiveness rate of 54.7 on south La oil spills. Dispersit, also from the EPA’s pre-approved list, is 7.9 in toxicity which means it’s a lot less toxic, and it has an effectiveness rate of 100%. Mare Clean 200’s toxicity rate is 42 it’s effectiveness rate is 84%compaired to Corexit’s rate of 54%

Who decided which dispersant to use? And was the decision to use this dispersant based on the corporate relationship between BP and Nelco . For instance Forbs.com lists Rodney F. Chase, the lead director for Nelco Holding Company. And who was also the Former Deputy Group Chief Executive and Managing Director from 1992- 2003 of BP P.L.C. I say that because, It is obvious that Corexit is the 2nd worse dispersant on the EPA’s list.

BP is clearly the responsible party in the GOM. However, it is up to us as American citizens to make sure that BP is unable to evade liability or cause the tax payers of the gulf communities to have to foot the bill for needed health care due to the DWH spill.

The purpose of and, the use of dispersants were not to get the oil out of the water but to get it out of sight. We know the dispersant does not eliminate the oil from the water but works to push it down throughout the water column settling at the bottom of the gulf, making it harder to skim and remove.

A Bill needs to be added to the Oil Pollution Act that covers human health as a recoverable damage. And this Act does not deal adequately with the dangers posed by the use of dispersant. 311 B & C of the Clean Water Act make no reference of safety in the guide lines in reference to dispersants, this needs to be addressed.

311D of the Clean Water Act requires that “the Federal Government determine the amount of dispersant that can be used QUOTE “safely” in the water in response to an oil spill. The Previsions 3l1 D of the Clean Water Act have been ignored! And if this dispersant is as safe as proclaimed, then there should be no problem in proving so. It is apparent that the EPA failed to do an analysis before pre-approving this dispersant to their list or before authorizing it’s use in the GOM. The EPA should have to determine whether or not it is safe to use these dispersants, not just which one listed is safest, but rather if they are safe to use at all. The lives of recovery workers, the residents, aquatic life and the food chain should have not been endangered. Massive quantities of this dispersant should not have been used until proven safe! Congressman Nadler belives this to be the sole purpose for 311D of the clean water act.

Lisa Jackson, administrator for the EPA, has stated herself that quote “the long term effects of dispersant on aquatic life is unknown, and the amount used in the gulf was unprecedented.” I’m sure the same applies for the human health effects.

EPA ‘s former administrator under the first president Bush and now co-chair of the presidential commission investigating this oil spill expressed concern about the use of dispersants. He said he didn’t allow the use of dispersants after the Exxon Valdez because he was concerned for the hatcheries in Prince William Sound. He said quote “We didn’t want the dispersants to get in to the water column where they (the fish) would have to ingest it.” He also expressed his desire for the commission to look into the dispersant policy.

The government authorized the use of these dispersants and is saying that everything is safe, 75% of the oil is gone, and there was no need for respirators in the oil spill response, and everyone knows this defies logic. Tony Hayward had the nerve to say the sickness that plagued some workers was food poisoning, while OSHA seemed to think it was just the heat, all the while BP denies liability.

People are sick whether it’s the Corexit, crude oil or the combination of the two, people are getting sick. On May 27, 2010, 7 people were admitted into West Jefferson Medical after having contact with the dispersant. In Louisiana alone the Department of Health reported 162 incidences as of July 1, 2010 related to chemical exposure 128 of those were clean up workers, the rest were general population. . There is a name for the illness that plagues gulf workers and residents, it’s called TILT, Toxic and Induced Loss of Tolerance. In which people loose the ability to tolerate exposure to everyday household chemical products, medications and sometimes even food.

I fear that the same mistakes that were made after 911 were repeated. Where thousands of responders & residents are now sick due to the federal governments failure to provide adequate oversight and enforcement to prevent the toxic exposure to chemicals in the air, and in the DWH incident, the air and water.

Studies need to be conducting, and available to the general public addressing illnesses and possible reactions to Corexit & oil. These tests and protocols should be transparent, and available for independent study also. Adequate health care should be provided for those who are exposed. Especially in cases where illness was due to their occupations (example, responders, clean up crews).

The haunting examples of the past are not only still present, but have a great potential for plaguing our future. State standards for measuring the safety of seafood after oil spills were lowered by FDA for the Gulf of Mexico after the DWH incident. The FDA defends setting a standard of about three times and higher expectable PAH detection for Gulf coast shellfish than those standards used for West coast spills. Saying that during the time between those spills and the BP oil spill, the EPA came out with updated cancer-risk data for PAH.

A survey of 547 coastal residents in the four Gulf states by the Natural Resources Defense Council found they had seafood consumption rates far higher than those being used by federal and state regulators to determine if contamination levels pose a risk to human health.

According to the FDA formula, Gulf Coast residents eat approximately 16.4 seafood meals per month, including 9.1 meals of fish, 2.9 of oysters and 4.4 of shrimp and crab. The portion size is set at 5.6 ounces of fish, 4.2 ounces of oysters and 3.1 ounces of shrimp or crab. Gina Solomon of NRDC, stated “When we looked at those parameters back in April, we realized the portion size for shrimp was about four jumbo shrimp eaten four times a month, But when we asked our partners on the Gulf Coast what they thought, they hooted and laughed, because they knew four jumbo shrimp won’t even make one po-boy.”

I have tested some oysters from my own state of Florida, in hopes to put some of my concerns to rest, only to find in 40.4g grams of oyster, 251 ppm of PYRIDINE, a toxic component of petroleum with no national standard of comparison, in other words, No studies are available in people or animals on the carcinogenic effects of pyridine. And it is unknown whether pyridine affects the ability of men and women to have children or whether it caused birth defects.

Pyridine evaporates into the air very easily, it is also very soluble in water. Pyridine sticks to soil partials., the information I located from the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry states that Pyridine quote “Probably doesn’t build up in plant and animas” yet I’ve found it in these oysters.

The ATSDR goes on to say that very little information is available on the health effects of pyridine. Animal studies and some limited case reports in people have noted liver damage from exposure to Pyridine. Harmful effects of the liver were seen in rats and mice that were given Pyridine for three months. How much were they given and how often were they given Pyridine, and why is that not listed? The FDA allows pyridine to be used as a flavoring agent in the preparation of food.

The ATSDR list that, Headaches, giddiness, a desire to sleep, quickening of the pulse, and rapid breathing occurred in adults who quote, “breathed an unknown amount of Pyridine for an unknown amount of time.” THE ATSDR states that there are medical tests available to measure the levels of Pyridine in urine and blood. However these tests are not usually preformed in most doctors offices because special equipment is needed.

OSHA has set an occupational exposure limit of 5 parts per million of work place air for an 8-hour work day over a 40 hour work week. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and health (NIOSH) have established the same guidelines as OSHA. NIOSH has recommended that 1,000 ppm be considered immediately danger to life and health. This is the exposure level of a chemical that is likely to cause permanent health problems or death. Yet these toxic components have no national standard of comparison. Why is it that these components are detectable, know to be toxic but still they are not properly tested and regulated. Could it be the FACT that Pyridine and some of the other non regulated toxic components we’ve located are product of petroleum?

It is apparent that action is needed immediately! And that these decisions are truly life or death decisions. These past and present examples of negligence are unacceptable. And I demand action! The best minds in the oil industry and the science world should not work only on getting the oil out in harsh and extreme conditions, but avoiding incident and responding promptly and adequately when incidents occur. Ken Salazar of the MMS stated quote, “that BP is the responsible party for the response and for the recovery without limitation.” I’m still waiting to see this transparency and recovery back to whole we were promised. I feel betrayed and farther from whole that I have ever felt in my life. I know the families, of the 11 men, the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons who lost the people that they love will never be whole.

The First thing in the Hippocratic Oath is to do no harm. Oil corporations have been allowed repeatedly to reap tremendous rewards, while America’s people are left with the tremendous liability. This must stop. A mom of two should not have to take precious time away from family, to bring to light the obvious governmental break downs and apparent relationships between corporate, special interest and the regulatory agencies. That Job should be up to a government that was founded on the greatest ideals and hopes (the freedom for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.. And I close with the words of Dennis Kucinich, “ Is this the best we can do? If this is the best we can do, then our best isn't good enough and we have to ask some hard questions about our political system: such as Government of the people or a government of the corporations.”

Vibrio Cholera traced back to Apalachicola Bay oysters...

Extracts of Vibrio cholerae were assayed for various enzymatic activities associated with Pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism

Extracts of Vibrio cholerae were assayed for various enzymatic activities associated with Pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism
  
Table 2. Michaelis–Menten parameters for the Vibrio cholerae sialidase-catalyzed hydrolysis of pyridinium α-D-N-acetylneuraminides, at pH 5.5 and 37 °C. ...

Soluble pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase - Vibrio cholerae MZO-2 
Michelle's comments below the FB Note:
Extracts of Vibrio cholerae were assayed for various enzymatic activities associated with Pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism...Vibrio Cholera traced back to Apalachicola Bay oysters...

Apalachicola Riverkeeper OSPREY Program's photostream--Pics and Vids from May 1, 2011

Tarballs, mats and oil debris on the beaches on St. George's Island, Florida.
There was a beach closure at this location.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/riverkeeper_osprey_program/

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Letter Hand-Delivered to Governor Rick Scott today 5/4/11 re: Toxic Waters and Cholera Outbreak in Florida


Hydrotherapy1
To the Citizens of Florida:
It is way past time to get this right. With the release of vast amounts of toxic crude and the even more toxic dispersants to cover up the crime scene, now we have intentional waste dumping in the areas off the Gulf of Mexico here in Florida. My take is "swim at your own risk" and "don't eat the seafood." In the past we have taken sand samples from a Sarasota Beach that were fingerprint matched to the crude from the Macondo well at 173ppm, continued and sporadic beach closures everywhere because of "bacteria" in the waters and no medical or health alerts sounded anywhere. This is directly related to the continuation of tax dollars from tourism, in Florida alone to the tune of 65 billion annually.

Our tourists and residents are still swimming and fishing in these waters and eating the seafood that comes from them.

When did the bottom line become more important than the health, well-being and thriving of our residents and tourists and let's not forget to mention the fishing industry?

When people start dying, our leaders will have blood on their hands. There is no nice way to say this.

This is the letter that was hand-delivered to Governor Rick Scott today. And there is no way he and his office can say that they did not receive it. Now they need to take action and so do we. Please place your calls, letters, faxes and emails to his office as soon as possible. This is our state and we pay our leaders to work for us. I am sure everyone wants clean air and fresh water. Take a stand! We can make a difference when we rise up!

Anita Stewart
Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Seat 5
Tampa, Florida
*****************************
LETTER:
To: The Honorable Rick Scott
Governor of Florida
Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

From: Robert D. Allen
Owner and Operator of Sportsman's Lodge
99 North Bayshore Drive
Eastpoint, Florida 32328

Dear Governor,
I have written you on numerous occasions concerning the problems here in Eastpoint. For ten years we have brought it to the attention of the Governor's Office, DEP, and all applicable State and Federal Agencies that the Eastpoint Waste Water Treatment Plant is dumping sewage into Indian Creek. I remind you again that I sold half my property to the State and half of Indian Creek is the property of the State.

We have ten years of accumulated proof of sewage dumping into the creek and flowing out to Apalachicola Bay and the Oyster Beds.

In 2007 we believed it was finally recognized and was to be corrected as a “Consent Order” was issued against the property next to the plant which was dumping the sewage via a “borrow pit.” It has been five years and evidence shows the DEP action was enacted to only farther cover-up the dumping. The Consent Order was never completed and no sanction was issued against the plant.

Now as we are sure your aware there has been an outbreak of Cholera traced back to Apalachicola Oysters and a “small leak” from the sewage plant. Cholera is not produced from a small leak but from long term unsanitary release of sewage. We have indisputable evidence of that long term release and of the States negligence to respond to that evidence. About one hundred million bacteria must typically be ingested to cause cholera in a normal healthy adult. This large amount is not produced short- term. Children are also
more susceptible with two to four year olds having the highest rates of infection. Cholera can be transmitted from person to person which puts every child of an Apalachicola Oyster man at risk. We have children and parents here who will tell the story of children with unexplained bouts of both diarrhea and vomiting. In these cases no known bacteria or virus was found as Cholera testing was not done.

The options at this point should be clear and understandable. The State can continue to neglect and downplay the dangers or begin to deal with them. As you have been here and eaten our oysters yourself there is no need to prolong the explanation that what hangs in the balance is a way of life and a large producer of income for the State. To continue to neglect such issues as the Sewage Plant in Eastpoint and a Landfill running water into a schoolyard is to endanger lives and commerce. If that is the choice of the State we have no choice but to appeal to higher authorities. We believe the FDA and CDC on reviewing our evidence will see the clear and present danger of a continued health disaster if left unchecked. We have asked through many avenues that you personally come and view our evidence. To date although you communicated through different offices we have yet to sit down with your representative. We ask that an unbiased representative from your office do this as soon as possible. We have gathered health professionals and importantly Bio-remediation Specialist who can advise and provide real answers to assure health and the restoration of our waters.

I will remind you these are Class II Federally protected waters in an estuary with rare and endangered species. I know it is your wish to forward the economy of this area. Such health threats as this news of Cholera and the recent influx of tar mats on St. George Island will not accomplish that. But, for the health of these waters and those who make their living on them we can no longer neglect the ongoing environmental abuse. The State of Florida is being funded millions of dollars for restoration of resources. The outflow of Indian Creek into the Bay is an idea candidate for that restoration. We have waited patiently for your response to these issues. Now we wait impatiently as it is our common practice to eat oysters to be able to do so again without the fear of sickness and a health epidemic.

Thank you for this consideration, 
Bob Allen, Concerned Citizens and Seafood Workers of Eastpoint, Florida         

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

UPDATE: Tar balls wash ashore on St. George Island, FL

Reported by: Mika Highsmith
Email: mhighsmith@wtxl.tv
Last Update: 9:52 am

ST. GEORGE ISLAND, Fla. -- More than a year after the oil spill in the gulf, tar balls are showing up on the shores of St. George Island State Park.

Officials say there's no reason to be alarmed.

Seashells, seagulls and sunbathers - images often found on the beach. But, right now folks also dealing with balls of tar scattered along an eight mile stretch.

Officials say don't be alarmed, pointing out this tar is different, uncharacteristic of the deep water horizon spil

“The Deep Water Horizon Oil is more of a brown in fact, its so watered down it looks like chips of brownies, as you can see here, this is black and gooey,” explained Pam Brownell.

Brownell is Director of Emergency Management for Franklin County. She says there's a strong possibility this tar came from a tanker that dumped it's engine waste offshore.

“What people don't realize is that gulf out there burps is what we call it, it opens up and it belches gas and oil and that will come to the shore.”

READ MORE AT THE LINK:
http://www.wtxl.com/content/topstories/story/UPDATE-Tar-balls-wash-ashore-on-St-George-Island/3uCpmK6w6Ua6y1Pd1fX6Ng.cspx

http://clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/19093/2426620?wpid=9716