Dauphin Island tarballs, May 2011
Cheryl’s update after reviewing the latest reports:
- There is a USCG unified command specific to BP spill residue after storms.
- The tarballs are not considered toxic, just an unattractive nuisance.
- Tarball cleanup on Dauphin Island was halted on May 1 to protect nesting birds.
- BP estimates a total Macondo spill volume of about 4 million bbl as opposed to the government estimate of 4.9 million bbl.
- BP estimates that 850,000 barrels were captured, burned or skimmed off the water.
- 1,260 people remain employed in spill cleanup as of [July 14, 2011], down from a peak of 48,200 a year ago
Articles of interest:
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 
Good coverage and explanation of the various activities for the past 12 months,
“BP estimates ….” The difference between a 4.9 mm bbls spill and a 4 mm bbls spill is – 22.5 % . almost a quarter less.
The difference between a 1,100 $ / bbls fine versus a 4,300 $ / bbls fine due to negligence is 390 % almost 4 times. So there is a lot of cases, may be we should waste less time on all this and concentrate on offshore safety.