Select Committee UPDATE
June 3, 2010
Markey Memo
**Follow Breaking News on Select Committee Oil Spill Webpage, Facebook and Twitter.
**BP CUTS PIPE, WILL ATTEMPT TO ATTACH TOP CAP THIS AFTERNOON**
CONGRESS SUCCEEDS in PUSHING BP to RELEASE all 12 VIDEO FEEDS
After several requests from Chairman Markey, the public now has the ability to watch all available live video feeds from BP’s undersea rovers. The multiple feeds are now running on the Select Committee Spillcam page.
These dozen views of the BP oil spill will finally provide the American public and independent observers unfettered access to assess both the progress and destruction happening a mile below the Gulf.
Now that the pipe at the top of the blowout preventer has been cut, this video is more important than ever. Scientists can now use it to reassess the change in flow rate, and better determine the true size and scope of this disaster.
The first images from the Spillcam were released May 20th. For the past week, the Select Committee has been providing a streaming feed of the 12 possible cameras to television networks to improve transparency of the operations.
HEARING MONDAY in GULF COAST
On Monday, the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a field hearing in Chalmette, Louisiana. The hearing will focus on the local impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
WHEN: 10:00 a.m. CDT on Monday, June 7
WHERE: Council Chambers
St. Bernard Parish Government Complex
8201 West Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, Louisiana 70043
INVITED WITNESSES:
Bill Francis, Medic, Deepwater Horizon
Acy Cooper, Vice President, Louisiana Shrimp Association
Moby Solangi, Ph.D., President & Ex Dir, Institute of Marine Mammal Services
Kelby Linn, Owner, ACP Real Estate, Inc., & VP Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce
Clarence Duplessis, Braithwaite, Louisiana
Wilma Subra, President, Subra Company
For additional information, please visit the Energy & Commerce website.
INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SHOW BP KNEW OIL SPILL was MUCH LARGER
Chairman Markey obtained internal documents from BP showing the oil company knew early on that the size of the oil spill after Deepwater Horizon rig explosion was much higher than their initial estimate of 1,000 barrels. Secretary Salazar agreed with Markey that BP could have a financial interest in underestimating the size of the spill.
One document, dated April 27, shows that BP’s high estimate for the daily rate of the spill was 14,266 barrels per day, well within the midrange of today’s technical group report. Yet on April 28th, one day later, BP publicly claimed that the spill was only 1,000 barrels a day – their low estimate for the size of the spill.
The implications for BP’s financial liability are directly tied to the size of the spill. Under current law -- the Clean Water Act as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, following the Exxon Valdez disaster -- a company that spills oil is subject to fines up to $1,000 per barrel, or up to $3,000 per barrel in the case of gross negligence.
Chairman Markey brought the documents to CBS FACE the NATION, and has posted them on the Select Committee website (HERE and HERE).
UNDERWATER OIL PLUMES
Following media reports where BP CEO Tony Hayward claimed that BP had found "no evidence" of underwater oil plumes - even though they have been discovered and documented by scientists - Chairman Markey sent a letter of inquiry to Hayward asking for documentation to substantiate his claims.
Rep. Markey notes that University of South Florida researchers recently found a 22 mile long plume of dispersed oil. Many independent news organizations have also taken footage of these plumes, which some scientists believe may be related to the use of dispersants.
IN THE NEWS:
CBS: Face the Nation
Is BP "Lying," Asks Dem, or Just "Incompetent"? - Face The Nation - CBS News
NPR: The Dianne Rehm Show:
Update on Gulf Oil Spill | The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR
ABC: Nightly News:
Plan 7? BP Tries 'Cut and Cap' to Plug Oil Leak
For additional information:
The Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming
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