|
Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill
Compiled by the National Defense University Library
Updated 15 January 2013
 On 20 April 2010, an explosion ripped through the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana. In the ensuing disaster, eleven workers lost their lives, and seventeen others were injured. Two days after the explosion, the damaged oil rig sank, and the Coast Guard noted the appearance of a 1-by-5 mile oil slick. By 24 April, the Coast Guard confirmed that fresh oil was leaking from two places at the well. On 29 April, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano declared the spill a crisis of national significance, allowing the Federal government to draw resources from across the country to support a massive cleanup effort. Despite this immense response, Louisiana's vibrant fishing and seafood industries were shut down in anticipation of oil contamination, and a region that relies so heavily on tourism saw an almost complete cessation of visitors, exacerbating economic hardships for a population still struggling to rebound from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
By June, scientists confirmed that the Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill was the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. territory in American history, and President Obama proclaimed it the worst environment disaster ever faced in the U.S. In a statement to the nation on 15 June, the President articulated a three-part response plan to the Gulf oil spill: the the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation's history, sending nearly 30,000 personnel across four states to contain and clean up the oil; the development of a recovery and restoration plan for the Gulf Coast, allocating resources to compensate workers and business owners whose livelihoods have been harmed, and development of a gulf coast restoration plan to combat decades of economic disaster and environmental degradation that has jeopardized the future of wetlands and habitats; and steps to ensure that disaster like this does not happen again by the establishment of a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards need to be put in place, along with a 6-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. On 16 June, President Obama met with officials from BP and announced the establishment of a $20 billion fund to pay claims for damages resulting from this spill.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has brought a number of important policy issues to the fore, and this page examines major issues such as the Federal response to the spill, the economic and environmental impacts, and health and safety issues, liability issues, and implications for future offshore drilling and exploration. The page concludes with a close look at the national security implications of oil dependency in the U.S.
General Information on the Spill
Official U.S. Government Response
Congressional Hearings
Government Accountability Office and Congressional Research Service Reports
Analysis of the Federal Response and Oversight Role
BP Response
Economic Impact
Environmental Impact
Health and Safety Issues
Liability and Responsibility Issues
Offshore Drilling and Exploration
National Security Implications of Oil Dependency
Additional Resources
General Information on the Spill
TOP
Official U.S. Response to the Spill
- [current] Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico: Military Supports Federal Oil Spill Response
U.S. Department of Defense
- [current] Deepwater Horizon Response - Department of Energy Actions on BP Oil Spill
U.S. Department of Energy
- [current] Deepwater Horizon Response - Data Summary from Deepwater Horizon
U.S. Department of Energy
- [current] Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill Response
Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce
- [current] EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- [current] Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Working Group
Council on Environmental Quality, The White House
- [current] Minerals Management Service - Gulf of Mexico Region
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior
- [3 Jan 13] Press Release: Transocean Agrees to Plead Guilty to Environmental Crime and Enter Civil Settlement to Resolve U.S. Clean Water Act Penalty Claims from Deepwater Horizon Incident
U.S. Department of Justice
- [15 Nov 12] Press Release: BP Exploration and Production Inc. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Felony Manslaughter, Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Congress Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident
U.S. Department of Justice
- [15 Nov 12] United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana - Information for Seaman's Manslaughter, Clean Water Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Obstruction of Congress - United States of America v. BP Exploration and Production, Inc.
U.S. Department of Justice
- [14 Nov 12] United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana - Superseding Indictment for Involuntary Manslaughter, Seaman's Manslaughter and Clean Water Act - United States of America v. Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine
U.S. Department of Justice
- [14 Sep 11] Report Regarding the Causes of the April 20, 2010 Macondo Well Blowout
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior
- [20 April 11] Statement by President Obama Marking the One-Year Anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
- [18 March 11] Final Action Memorandum - Incident Specific Preparedness Review (ISPR) Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Jan 11)
U.S. Coast Guard
- [28 Feb 11] Update on the BP Claims Compensation Process Resulting from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Foreign Press Center briefing by Ken Feinberg, White House and BP Appointed Administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund (Gulf Coast Claims Facility)
- [5 Oct 10] White House: Executive Order - Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
- [28 Sep 10] Statement by the President on the Long-Term Recovery Plan After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
- [19 Sep 10] Statement by President Obama on Final Termination of BP's Blown Out Well in the Gulf of Mexico
- [Sep 10] America's Gulf Coast: A Long-Term Recovery Plan after the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill
Restore the Gulf - Federal Portal
NOTE: Also known as "The Mabus Report"
- [16 Aug 10] Report Regarding the Minerals Management Service's National Environmental Policy Act Policies, Practices, and Procedures as They Relate to Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Council on Environmental Quality, The White House
- [16 Aug 10] Memorandum Regarding Use of Categorical Exclusions in the Gulf of Mexico Region
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior
- [14 Aug 10] Remarks by the President on Gulf Coast Recovery in Panama City, Florida
- [16 July 10] Remarks by the President to the Press
- [12 July 10] Decision Memorandum Regarding the Decision of Certain Offshore Permitting and Drilling Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf
Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior
- [12 July 10] Q's and A's: New Deepwater Drilling Suspensions
U.S. Department of the Interior
- [1 July 10] White House Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and National Incident Commander Thad Allen
- [30 June 10] White House Press Release: Memorandum from the President on the Long-Term Gulf Coast Restoration Support Plan
- [29 June 10] State Department Press Release: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: International Offers of Assistance
- [16 June 10] Statement by the President after Meeting with BP Executives
- [16 June 10] White House Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, Admiral Thad Allen, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner
NOTE: First portion of the briefing is on Iran
- [15 June 10] Remarks by the President to the Nation on the BP Oil Spill
- [15 June 10] Remarks by the President after a Briefing with Admiral Thad Allen and Local Officials on the BP Oil Spill
- [14 June 10] Remarks by the President after Touring Theodore Staging Facility
- [14 June 10] State Department Press Release: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: International Offers of Assistance
- [10 June 10] Letter to BP Chairman on Presidential Meeting
Admiral Thad Allen, USCG, National Incident Commander
- [7 June 10] White House Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen
- [7 June 10] Remarks by the President after Meeting with Cabinet Members to Discuss the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
- [5 June 10] White House - Weekly Address: President Obama Outlines Administration Response Efforts to the BP Oil Spill from Grand Isle, LA
- [4 June 10] Remarks by the President after Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill Update
- [1 June 10] Gulf Oil Spill
Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General
- [1 June 10] Remarks by the President after Meeting with BP Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs
- [30 May 10] Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas Leases in the Outer Continental Shelf Regions of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific to Implement the Directive to Impose a Moratorium on All Drilling of Deepwater Wells
Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
- [29 May 10] Statement by the President on the Latest Efforts to Contain the BP Oil Spill
- [28 May 10] Remarks by the President after Briefing on BP Oil Spill
- [27 May 10] Remarks by the President on the Gulf Oil Spill
- [27 May 10] Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf
U.S. Department of the Interior
- [24 May 10] White House Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Admiral Thad Allen and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner
- [22 May 10] White House - Weekly Address: President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [22 May 10] Executive Order - National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [14 May 10] Remarks by the President on the Ongoing Oil Spill Response
- [12 May 10] Presidential Memorandum - Oil Supplemental Package
- [12 May 10] White House Press Briefing on BP Oil Spill Response Legislation by Melody Barnes, Carol Browner, and Jeff Liebman
- [2 May 10] Remarks by the President on Oil Spill
- [1 May 10] White House Press Release: The Response to the Oil Spill
- [29 April 10] White House Press Briefing on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast
Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, David Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, RADM Sally Brice-O'Hara, USCG, and Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
- [March 10] Roadmap for Restoring Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability
Louisiana-Mississippi Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Working Group, The White House
TOP
Congressional Hearings
Additional Congressional Hearings can be found in the relevant subject categories below
- [30 Jan 12] Offshore Drilling in Cuba and the Bahamas: The U.S. Coast Guard's Oil Spill Readiness and Response Planning
Hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
- [7 Dec 11] Restoring Jobs, Coastal Viability, and Economic Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico: H.R. 3096, The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2011
Hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- [2 Nov 11] Assuring the Safety of Domestic Energy Production: Lessons Learned from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
- [27 Oct 11] Gulf Coast Recovery: President Obama's BP Compensation Fund, How is it Working?
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [13 Oct 11] BOEMRE/U.S. Coast Guard Joint Investigation Team Report
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [12 Oct 11] One Year After President Obama's Gulf of Mexico 6-Month Moratorium Officially Lifted: Examining the Lingering Impacts on Jobs, Energy Production and Local Economies
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [20 July 11] Looking to the Future: Lessons in Prevention, Response, and Restoration from the Gulf Oil Spill
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- [2 June 11] Making the Gulf Coast Whole Again: Assessing the Recovery Efforts of BP and the Obama Administration After the Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- [6 April 11] Offshore Drilling Safety and Response Technologies
Hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [16 March 11] Report to the President from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [22 Sep 10] DHS Planning and Response: Preliminary Lessons from Deepwater Horizon
Hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security
- [4 Aug 10] Oversight Hearing on the Use of Oil Dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Oversight
- [21 July 10] Turning Ideas into Action: Ensuring Effective Clean Up and Restoration in the Gulf
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- [17 June 10] Harnessing Small Business Innovation: Navigating the Evaluation Process for Gulf Coast Oil Cleanup Proposals
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- [9 June 10] Beneath the Surface of the BP Spill: What's Happening Now, What's Needed Next
Briefing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [9 June 10] Deluge of Oil Highlights Research and Technology Needs for Effective Cleanup of Oil Spills
Hearing before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [30 May 10] Press Release: Committee Releases Memo and Documents Concerning Issues Raised in Recent News Media Accounts Relating to the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- [27 May 10] Press Release: Chairmen Send Letter to BP Regarding Internal Investigation
Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bark Stupak, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [19 May 10] Sizing Up the BP Oil Spill: Science and Engineering Measuring Methods
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [12 May 10] Inquiry Into the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Coast Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [4 June 09] A New Direction for Federal Oil Spill Research and Development
Hearing before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment
TOP
Government Accountability and Congressional Research Service Reports
TOP
Analysis of the Federal Response and Oversight Role
- [6 Oct 11] The Gulf Oil Spill: Lessons for Public Policy
Richard L. Gordon. CATO Institute
- [Sep 11] Real-Time Economic Analysis and Policy Development During the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Joseph E. Aldy. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- [19 April 11] The Gulf One Year Later: Beyond Rhetoric? Congress Has Failed to Do More Than Talk About Gulf Coast Restoration
Michael Conathan. Center for American Progress
- [6 Oct 10] The Amount and Fate of the Oil
Staff Working Paper from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [6 Oct 10] Decision-Making Within the Unified Command
Staff Working Paper from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [9 Aug 10] Critical Lessons from the Federal Response to the Gulf Oil Spill
Daniel J. Kaniewski and James Jay Carafano. Heritage Foundation
- [Aug 10] Failure of Leadership: President Obama and the Flawed Federal Response to the BP Disaster
An oversight report by Sen. James M. Inhofe, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [27 July 10] Haphazard Firefighting Might Have Sunk BP Oil Rig
Aaron Mehta and John Solomon. Center for Public Integrity
- [22 July 10] Offshore Drilling: Will Interior's Reforms Change its History of Failed Oversight?
Hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- [20 July 10] The Role of the Interior Department in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [14 July 10] A Rational Post-Spill Policy that Allows Offshore Drilling
Ben Lieberman. Heritage Foundation
- [12 July 10] The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Chain of Command: An Examination of Information Sharing Practices During a Spill of National Significance
Hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight
- [2 July 10] A Chilling Response to Gulf Oil Spill
Jack Coleman. Council on Foreign Relations
- [July 10] Preparing for the Next Public Health Crisis: Establishing a Public Health Response Plan to Address Threats Such as the Gulf Oil Disaster
Ellen-Marie Whelan and Lesley Russell. Center for American Progress
- [22 June 10] Oil Spill Response Sets Poor Precedent for Public-Private Cooperation
Jena Baker McNeill and Brian W. Walsh. Heritage Foundation
- [17 June 10] The Deepwater Horizon Incident: Are the Minerals Management Service Regulations Doing the Job?
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- [15 June 10] Stopping the Slick, Saving the Environment: A Framework for Response, Recovery, and Resiliency
Nicolas D. Loris, et al. Heritage Foundation
- [14 June 10] Obama's Oil Reform Opportunity: Setting America on the Road to Recovery from the BP Disaster
Daniel J. Weiss. Center for American Progress
- [10 June 10] Deep Impact: Assessing the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on States, Localities and the Private Sector
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
- [10 June 10] Taking Control of Public Health: Government, Not BP, Should Lead Health Response in the Gulf
Lesley Russell and Ellen-Marie Whelan. Center for American Progress
- [June 10] The Dangers of Overreacting to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Kenneth P. Green and Steven F. Hayward. American Enterprise Institute
- [27 May 10] Combating the BP Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [26 May 10] Calling the Shots in the Gulf: The Federal Government Needs to Take Command of the Disaster
Tom Kenworthy and Brad Johnson. Center for American Progress
- [19 May 10] Deepwater Horizon: Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures, and Natural Resource Impacts
Hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- [18 May 10] The Federal Response to the Oil Spill: Lessons to Be Learned
Ben Lieberman. Heritage Foundation
- [18 May 10] Federal Response to the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [17 May 10] Gulf Coast Catastrophe: Assessing the Nation's Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- [12 May 10] Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Does the Federal Government Share Responsibility?
Jack Spencer. Heritage Foundation
- [4 May 10] Fresh Eyes on the BP Disaster: An Independent Commission to Investigate the Oil Spill
Daniel J. Weiss. Center for American Progress
- [May 10] Coping with the Next Oil Spill: Why U.S.-Cuba Environmental Cooperation is Critical
Jorge R. Piñon and Robert L. Muse. Brookings Institution
TOP
BP Response to the Disaster
- [current] Gulf of Mexico Response
BP Global
- [current] Gulf of Mexico Severe Weather Contingency Plans
BP Global
- [14 Sep 11] Press Release: BP Responds to US Government Report on Deepwater Horizon Accident
BP Global
- [21 April 11] Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Agreement announced by the Natural Resources Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Department of the Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and BP
- [28 Feb 11] Update on the BP Claims Compensation Process Resulting from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Foreign Press Center briefing by Ken Feinberg, White House and BP Appointed Administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund (Gulf Coast Claims Facility)
- [8 Sep 10] Deepwater Horizon Accident Investigation Report
BP Incident Investigation Team
NOTE: Report landing page provides links to the full investigation report, along with links for the executive summary, video, press release, appendices, and presentation slides
- [21 July 10] Response to Chairman Markey's Correspondence, Dated June 30, 2010, to Mr. Lamar McKay, President and CEO of BP America Inc.
BP America Inc.
- [6 July 10] Source Control Subsea Dispersant Forward Plan
Douglas J. Suttles, Chief Operating Officer, BP
NOTE: Made available by the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
- [17 June 10] The Role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [14 June 10] Press Release: Chairmen Send Letter to BP CEO Prior to Hearing
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Letter from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to BP CEO Hayward prior to 17 June 10 testimony before the committee. Contains links to e-mail and reports from BP, Halliburton reports, and the Macondo Prospect Well information
- [13 June 10] Letter to RADM James A. Watson, U.S. Coast Guard
Douglas J. Suttles, Chief Operating Officer, BP
NOTE: Full-text made available by Politico
- [24 May 10] Washington Briefing: Deepwater Horizon Interim Incident Investigation
BP Global
NOTE: Made available by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- [June 09] BP Gulf of Mexico Regional Oil Spill Response Plan
BP Global
NOTE: Made available by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
TOP
Economic Impact of the Spill
- [Sep 11] Real-Time Economic Analysis and Policy Development During the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Joseph E. Aldy. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- [4 Aug 10] Oversight Hearing on the Use of Oil Dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Oversight
- [27 July 10] The BP Oil Spill and Gulf Coast Tourism: Assessing the Impact
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
- [27 July 10] The Deepwater Drilling Moratorium: A Second Economic Disaster for Small Businesses?
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- [22 July 10] The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Ensuring a Financially Responsible Recovery Part II
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
- [21 July 10] Ensuring Justice for Victims of the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster
Hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- [20 July 10] Immediate Need for Charitable Assistance in the Gulf Coast Region
Hearing before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Oversight
- [15 July 10] Tax Issues and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Legal Analysis of Payments and Tax Relief Policy Options
Milly F. Sherlock, et al. Congressional Research Service
- [1 July 10] The Economic Impact of an Offshore Drilling Ban
David W. Kreutzer and John Ligon. Heritage Foundation
- [30 June 10] White House Press Release: Memorandum from the President on the Long-Term Gulf Coast Restoration Support Plan
- [16 June 10] Statement by the President after Meeting with BP Executives
- [16 June 10] White House Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, Admiral Thad Allen, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner
NOTE: First portion of the briefing is on Iran
- [16 June 10] The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Ensuring a Financially Responsible Recovery
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
- [7 June 10] Local Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [June 10] The Dangers of Overreacting to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Kenneth P. Green and Steven F. Hayward. American Enterprise Institute
- [11 May 10] Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [30 April 10] Oil Spills by the Numbers: Daniel J. Weiss and Susan Lyon Detail the Devastating Consequences of Exxon Valdez and BP Gulf
Susan Lyon and Daniel J. Weiss. Center for American Progress
TOP
Environmental Impact of the Spill
- [current] EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- [21 April 11] Framework for Early Restoration Addressing Injuries Resulting from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Agreement announced by the Natural Resources Trustees for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, the Department of the Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and BP
- [6 Oct 10] The Use of Surface and Subsea Dispersants During the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Staff Working Paper from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [8 Sep 10] The 2010 Oil Spill: Natural Resource Damage Assessment Under the Oil Pollution Act
Kristina Alexander. Congressional Research Service
- [5 Aug 10] The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response
M. Lynne Corn and Claudia Copeland. Congressional Research Service
- [4 Aug 10] Oversight Hearing on the Use of Oil Dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Oversight
- [27 July 10] Assessing Natural Resource Damages Resulting from the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [30 June 10] White House Press Release: Memorandum from the President on the Long-Term Gulf Coast Restoration Support Plan
- [28 June 10] The 2010 Oil Spill: Criminal Liability Under Wildlife Laws
Kristina Alexander. Congressional Research Service
- [15 June 10] Ocean Science and Data Limits in a Time of Crisis: Do NOAA and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Have the Resources to Respond?
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Oversight
- [10 June 10] The BP Oil Spill: Human Exposure and Environmental Fate
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [10 June 10] Our Natural Resources at Risk: The Short and Long Term Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Oversight
- [7 June 10] Local Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [4 June 10] The 2010 Oil Spill: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Kristina Alexander. Congressional Research Service
- [June 10] The Dangers of Overreacting to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Kenneth P. Green and Steven F. Hayward. American Enterprise Institute
- [19 May 10] Deepwater Horizon: Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures, and Natural Resource Impacts
Hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- [11 May 10] Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- [30 April 10] Oil Spills by the Numbers: Daniel J. Weiss and Susan Lyon Detail the Devastating Consequences of Exxon Valdez and BP Gulf
Susan Lyon and Daniel J. Weiss. Center for American Progress
- [3 Nov 08] Environmental Activities of the U.S. Coast Guard
Jonathan L. Ramseur. Congressional Research Service
TOP
Health and Safety Issues
TOP
Liability and Responsibility Issues
- [17 Feb 12] Press Release: MOEX Offshore Agrees to $90 Million Partial Settlement of Liability in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill / $70 Million Penalty is Largest Under the Clean Water Act; MOEX Also to Perform Gulf Conservation Projects Worth at Least $20 Million
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- [19 April 11] One Year Later BP Still Not "Making It Right": BP Must Make an Immediate Down Payment on Future Restoration Funding
Jorge Madrid and Kiley Kroh. Center for American Progress
- [8 Sep 10] The 2010 Oil Spill: Natural Resource Damage Assessment Under the Oil Pollution Act
Kristina Alexander. Congressional Research Service
- [16 Aug 10] Federal Civil and Criminal Penalties Possibly Applicable to Parties Responsible for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Robert Meltz. Congressional Research Service
- [2 Aug 10] Oil Spill Liability: A Plan for Reform
Nicolas D. Loris, Jack Spencer, and James Jay Carafano. Heritage Foundation
- [22 July 10] The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Ensuring a Financially Responsible Recovery Part II
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
- [21 July 10] Ensuring Justice for Victims of the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster
Hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- [30 June 10] Deepwater Horizon Tragedy: Holding Responsible Parties Accountable
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- [30 June 10] Legislation to Respond to the BP Oil Spill and to Prevent Future Oil Well Blowouts
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [28 June 10] The 2010 Oil Spill: Criminal Liability Under Wildlife Laws
Kristina Alexander. Congressional Research Service
- [17 June 10] The Role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- [16 June 10] Statement by the President after Meeting with BP Executives
- [16 June 10] White House Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey, Admiral Thad Allen, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner
NOTE: First portion of the briefing is on Iran
- [16 June 10] The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Ensuring a Financially Responsible Recovery
Hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security
- [14 June 10] Press Release: Chairmen Send Letter to BP CEO Prior to Hearing
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
- [10 June 10] Letter to BP Chairman on Presidential Meeting
Admiral Thad Allen, USCG, National Incident Commander
- [9 June 10] Liability and Financial Responsibility for Oil Spills under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and Related Statutes
Hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- [8 June 10] The Risky Business of Big Oil: Have Recent Court Decisions and Liability Caps Encouraged Irresponsible Corporate Behavior?
Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- [1 June 10] Gulf Oil Spill
Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General
- [27 May 10] Liability Issues Surrounding the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster
Hearing before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- [14 May 10] Remarks by the President on the Ongoing Oil Spill Response
- [12 May 10] White House Press Briefing on BP Oil Spill Response Legislation by Melody Barnes, Carol Browner, and Jeff Liebman
- [12 May 10] Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Does the Federal Government Share Responsibility?
Jack Spencer. Heritage Foundation
TOP
Offshore Drilling and Exploration
- [6 May 11] Outer Continental Shelf Moratoria on Oil and Gas Development
Curry L. Hagerty. Congressional Research Service
- [11 Jan 11] Deep Water: The Gulf Oil Disaster and the Future of Offshore Drilling
Report to the President from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [11 Jan 11] U.S. Deepwater Drilling's Future
Toni Johnson. Council on Foreign Relations
- [Dec 10] The Gulf of Mexico - Open for Business?
Gary Adams. Deloitte
- [20 Sep 10] Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework
Adam Vann. Congressional Research Service
- [25 Aug 10] Drilling Moratorium Working Group Report
Jason Grumet, Norm Szydlowski, Richard Haut, Elgie Holstein and Joe Perkins. Bipartisan Policy Center
- [23 Aug 10] A Brief History of Offshore Oil Drilling
Staff Working Paper from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [22 July 10] Offshore Drilling: Will Interior's Reforms Change its History of Failed Oversight?
Hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- [14 July 10] A Rational Post-Spill Policy that Allows Offshore Drilling
Ben Lieberman. Heritage Foundation
- [12 July 10] Decision Memorandum Regarding the Decision of Certain Offshore Permitting and Drilling Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf
Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior
- [12 July 10] Q's and A's: New Deepwater Drilling Suspensions
U.S. Department of the Interior
- [24 June 10] State Planning for Offshore Energy Developments: Standards for Preparedness
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Oversight
- [23 June 10] Deepwater Drilling Technology, Research, and Development
Hearing before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [6 May 11] Outer Continental Shelf Moratoria on Oil and Gas Development
Curry L. Hagerty. Congressional Research Service
- [Summer 10] The Implications of the April 2010 Oil Spill on Deepwater Exploration and Production
Loretta Cross, Robert Moore, Justin Griffin, and Danny Shakir. Grant Thornton
- [30 May 10] Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas Leases in the Outer Continental Shelf Regions of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific to Implement the Directive to Impose a Moratorium on All Drilling of Deepwater Wells
Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
- [27 May 10] Increased Safety Measures for Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf
U.S. Department of the Interior
- [27 May 10] Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Strategy and Implications of the Deepwater Horizon Rig Explosion - Part II
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [26 May 10] Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Strategy and Implications of the Deepwater Horizon Rig Explosion
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [22 May 10] White House - Weekly Address: President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [22 May 10] Executive Order - National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
- [26 April 10] U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Resources: Prospects and Processes
Marc Humphries, Robert Pirog, and Gene Whitney. Congressional Research Service
- [Oct 09] Five Alternatives that Make More Sense than Offshore Oil
Whitney Angell Leonard. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- [24 March 09] Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf and the Future of Our Oceans
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources and Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife
- [17 March 09] Leasing and Development of Oil and Gas Resources on the Outer Continental Shelf
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- [5 March 09] Energy Outlooks, and the Role of Federal Onshore and Offshore Resources in Meeting Future Energy Demand
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- [25 Feb 09] Offshore Drilling: Industrial Perspectives
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [24 Feb 09] Offshore Drilling: State Perspectives
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [11 Feb 09] Offshore Drilling: Environmental and Commercial Perspectives
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources
- [3 Oct 08] Oil and Gas Leasing: Interior Could Do More to Encourage Diligent Development
Government Accountability Office
- [28 June 07] The Minerals Management Service's Proposed 2007-2012 Program for Oil and Gas Leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf
Hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
TOP
National Security Implications of Oil Dependency
- [current] Energy Security - National Security Strategy MiPAL
Military Education Research Library Network (MERLN)
- [15 June 10] Drilling Down on America's Energy Future: Safety, Security, and Clean Energy
Hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
- [14 June 10] America Over a Barrel: Solving Our Oil Vulnerability
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
- [27 May 10] Ending Our Dependence on Oil
Mark Bettinger, et al. American Security Project and Sierra Club
- [23 April 10] Quenching Our Thirst for Oil: Growing Global Oil Demand Harms U.S. Security and Economy
Susan Lyon, Rebecca Lefton, and Daniel J. Weiss. Center for American Progress
- [17 Feb 10] Oil Addiction: Fueling Our Enemies
Jonathan Powers. Truman National Security Project
- [Oct 09] Five Alternatives that Make More Sense than Offshore Oil
Whitney Angell Leonard. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- [Aug 09] Securing America's Future: Enhancing Our National Security by Reducing Oil Dependence and Environmental Damage
Christopher Beddor, et al. Center for American Progress
- [May 09] Imported Oil and U.S. National Security
Keith Crane, et al. RAND Corporation
- [5 March 09] Can We Drill Our Way to Energy Security?
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross. Foundation for Defense of Democracies
- [March 09] Oil, Gas and International Insecurity: Tacking a Self-Fuelling Fire
Daniel Litvin. Chatham House
- [Sep 08] Peak Oil: A Survey of Security Concerns
Neil King, Jr. Center for a New American Security
- [Sep 08] A National Strategy for Energy Security: Recommendations to the Nation on Reducing U.S. Oil Dependence
Energy Security Leadership Council
TOP
Additional Resources
TOP
|
|
