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	Name:	MartiniMan -
	Subject:	Answers as best I know them or not if I don't
	Date:	8/5/2010 9:44:19 AM

When do you anticipate that the Louisiana marshes will be cleaned up to Gov Jindal approval? I am not sure what Gov. Jindal has established as an acceptable cleanup. The marshes are by far the most complex aspect of the cleanup because the cure is often worse than the disease. This is why the Federal Gov't's refusal to let them build the berms was so damaging. In order to physically remove the oil you end up doing a lot of damage to the biota (plants and animals). On the positive side, the oil that reached the marshes was heavily weathered and had very little if any chemical toxicity. It would have physical toxicity but once its bound up with the marsh grasses that is less of a concern. It also has the potential to biodegrade as this is a very active biological degradation zone. I think the short answer is the remnants of oil will likely remain in the marshes for some time but if left undisturbed would not be a big risk. This will obviously take some more study.

When do you anticpate that the oil that is floating around the gulf will be picked up or natuarally disperse so that it will have not adverse affect on the environment, water purity, fish reproduction? Or do you not think it has any adverse affects? If you read the accounts and remember our experience when we were sampling they are already having a hard time finding oil to recover by skimming. It is just no longer there due to the recovery efforts and the incredible ability of the Gulf to naturally degrade the oil as evidenced by its ability to degrade the 5,000 barrels per day that naturally flow into it with no impact. With the well being permanently plugged as we speak it will only accelerate. There have been no studies that I am aware of about fish reproduction. NOAA has focused almost exclusively on chemistry. Fish studies take years to complete and are complex. As I said earlier, most of the oil is naturally degraded by the time it reaches the surface and has lost most of its chemical toxicity. There will be detectable lingering effects for a year or two but after that you will not be able to find anything in the water.

When will the oil that is on the bottom of the gulf cease affecting the oxygen level, and when will it not be a problem to the above? As soon as the oil is naturally degraded it no longer has what is called biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) which is the demand of oxygen to fuel the degradation. When the remaining oil is through degrading the BOD will gradually return to normal levels. Not sure what that timeframe will be but it will be studied to death by NOAA and BP.

When do you anticipate that I can walk on the beaches of Gulf Shores and not see and step on tar balls? Are those a problem to you? It will probably be years to come but frankly I have seen tar balls every time I have been to the Gulf over the last 20+ years. They are not attractive but frankly never diminished my enjoyment of the beach. As I understand it there will be a long term program to remove the material from the beach so make a call and hopefully they will come get it.

Do you see any adverse affects caused by the BP Oil spill? If so, when do you anticipate these to no longer be a problem? In the next 3 to 5 years and likely less you will have to go searching for some evidence that the spill ever happened. By far the most egregious long term effects will be economic.

I know how much this spill has upset you but I think you should be optimistic about the long-term ramifications.

Other messages in this thread:

View Entire Thread

WH supports my views on oil spill - MartiniMan - 8/4/2010 12:35:05 PM

WH supports my views on oil spill - Jim Dandy - 8/4/2010 1:28:30 PM

WH supports my views on oil spill - MartiniMan - 8/4/2010 1:38:57 PM

WH supports my views on oil spill - lakngulf - 8/4/2010 2:20:19 PM

The good news... - Summer Lover - 8/4/2010 2:52:54 PM

WH supports my views on oil spill - MartiniMan - 8/4/2010 5:36:34 PM

WH supports my views on oil spill - lakngulf - 8/4/2010 9:36:03 PM

Dayum.... - lamont - 8/5/2010 8:29:17 AM

Answers as best I know them or not if I don't - MartiniMan - 8/5/2010 9:44:19 AM

Answers as best I know them or not if I don't - lakngulf - 8/5/2010 10:07:26 AM

A little perspective. - Lifer - 8/5/2010 2:10:29 PM

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