Evidence Refutes BP's and Fed's Deceptions
Monday 04 October 2010
by: Dahr Jamail and Erika Blumenfeld, t r u t h o u t | Report
(Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
In August, Truthout conducted soil and water sampling in Pass Christian Harbor, Mississippi; on Grand Isle, Louisiana; and around barrier islands off the coast of Louisiana, in order to test for the presence of oil from BP's Macondo Well.
Laboratory test results from the samples taken in these areas show extremely high concentrations of oil in both the soil and water.
These results contradict consistent claims made by the federal government and BP since early August that much of the Gulf of Mexico is now free of oil and safe for fishing and recreational use.
The samples taken were tested in a private laboratory via gas chromatography.
The environmental analyst who worked with this writer did so on condition of anonymity and performed a micro extraction that tests for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The lower reporting limit the analyst is able to detect from a solid sample is 50 parts per million (ppm).
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Oiled mooring rope and oil sheen on water's surface inside Christian Harbor, Mississippi, August 13, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A water sample from inside Pass Christian Harbor, Mississippi, taken on August 13, contained 611 ppm of TPH. Seawater that is free of oil would test at zero ppm of TPH.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle beach, Grand Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A soil sample containing tar balls from the beach on Grand Isle, Louisiana, taken on August 16, contained 39,364 ppm of TPH.
Casse-Tete Island, Louisiana
A water sample taken on August 16 from a pool of water on Casse-Tete Isle contained 57 ppm of TPH. The GPS coordinates for this and the following samples are 2907.603N, 9020.395 W.
Several soil samples were tested from an oil-covered beach on the island.
Sampling team on oil-soaked beach, Casse-Tete Isle, Louisiana, August, 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A sample of soil taken from this area contained 40,099 ppm of TPH. Much of the marsh grass was stained black and brown with oil.
Oiled sand and marsh grass, Casse-Tete Isle, Louisiana, August, 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A sample of marsh grass in this area of Casse-Tete Isle contained 144,700 ppm of TPH.
West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana
Oil sheen-covered tidal pool and fiddler crabs, West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A water sample taken from a tide pool on West Timbalier Isle on August 16 contained 11 ppm of TPH. The GPS coordinates for this and the following samples are 2903.389N, 927.033W.
Disturbingly, despite these results and a continuance of fish kills along the Louisiana coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recently partnered up with BP to send personnel into middle schools in Louisiana in order to convince school children that Gulf seafood is safe.
Meanwhile, several recent massive fish kills continue to occur in other areas of Louisiana.
Oil-soaked lagoon, West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A water sample taken from an inland lagoon on West Timbalier Isle contained 521 ppm of TPH.
Sampling was also conducted on beach areas of West Timbalier Isle on the same day.
Fist-sized tar ball, West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
Charter fisherman Craig Matherne with tar mat, West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
A soil sample containing tar balls contained 40,834 ppm of TPH.
A soil sample taken near a layer of tar on the beach of West Timbalier Isle contained 60,068 ppm of TPH.
A soil sample taken from another inland lagoon on West Timbalier Isle contained 4,506 ppm of TPH.
Oiled soil within inland lagoon, West Timbalier Isle, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
Open Water in Gulf of Mexico
After leaving the area, Truthout came across a large area out in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately five miles from shore, where emulsified white foam covered the surface.
Emulsified foam and oil in open water between Timbalier Isle and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
Fishermen and other journalists across the Gulf have reported to Truthout that this phenomenon is what is left after dispersants have been used to sink surface oil.
A water sample from surface of this area contained 11ppm of TPH. It was taken from an open water area between Timbalier Isle and Port Fourchon at 3:00 PM, on August 16 and the GPS coordinates for the sample are 2902.871N, 9017.421W.
Jonathan Henderson with the Gulf Restoration Network taking water samples in emulsified foam area between Timbalier Isle and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, August 16, 2010. (Photo: Erika Blumenfeld)
The US Coast Guard claims that no dispersants have been used since mid-July.
Jonathan Henderson, with the nonprofit environmental group Gulf Restoration Network, was on board to witness the sampling, as well as to conduct his own sampling and document what he found.
The hydrocarbon tests conducted on the samples taken by this writer only represent a tiny part of the Gulf compared to the massive area that has been affected by BP's oil catastrophe. A comprehensive sampling regime across the Gulf, taken regularly over the years ahead, is clearly required in order to implement appropriate cleanup responses and take public safety precautions.
This work by Truthout is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Comments
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I'm afraid the fish that
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:18 — CW (not verified)I'm afraid the fish that they catch or find dead and diseased will end up in pet food as well as on the table. We need sporadic, independent testing.
Forget about our government
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 15:35 — BillyDoc (not verified)Forget about our government doing anything for "We the People," they work for the wealthy, exclusively. The people who give them all that "campaign" money. In this case money is buying protection for BP profits at the expense of our health and in too many cases our livelihood. Get used to it, it's your future. It's called Fascism if you want to get technical.
Why is our gov't lying about
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:22 — We KNOW Bush/Cheney are liars, but... (not verified)Why is our gov't lying about the gulf?
I can understand why BP would lie... but I don't get why our gov't would lie to us about there being oil or toxins in the gulf and it's creatures.
I understand they must be lying from this article and other articles I've read, but why? It is because they need BP's oil? Or BP as a solvent company?
Who in the gov't is lying? Does it go all the way up to Obama? Or is it some of the same department and people who used to work under Bush and want to see the Obama Administration go down? It is the MMS who is lying about the oil, in the fish, in the gulf?
These lies will harm:
the liars, and
anyone who eats this fish or
who eats pork that were fed fish from the gulf
Why lie about the oil in the gulf if you are anyone other than BP, Transocean, or Halliburton???
Also, BP supplies 80% of the
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 16:42 — Anonymous (not verified)Also, BP supplies 80% of the refined oil for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So the MIC does not want BP punished. The Imperialists that want U.S. hegemony are against punishment.
The American people only want punishment commensurate with the crime, some believe deliberate.
Israel wanted the well drilled too quickly, because this was to be a backup for when their attack on IRAN closes the Persian Gulf.
Too bad the rush job for Israel cost so many Americans their livelihood, and many their lives and may further bankrupt the U.S.
Ken Salazar, another Bus...
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 18:48 — Petroleum Spirits (not verified)Ken Salazar, another Bus... er.. Obama appointment. Interior Dept, another Captive US Agency.
How come we don't hear Sarah
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 19:06 — Anonymous (not verified)How come we don't hear Sarah and the GOP still singing "DRILL, BABY DRILL. They sure are quiet about the biggest oil spill in our nation's history. The fact that the pay czar is now going to give the people 20 billion of the taxpayers money from the royalties that BP was to pay the government is just another crooked GOP trick. Interesting the banks and the financials got 1 trillion in bailout money in 2 weeks flat with no paperwork and no pay czar doling it out. It's who you know baby.
Your recent article about a
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 19:59 — Anonymous (not verified)Your recent article about a group that refutes global warming sought 'transparency' regarding their funding sources but this article maintains the anonymity of the sample tester? Ironic.
Do not take ANY samples
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 20:38 — Anonymous (not verified)Do not take ANY samples without a respirator! And, keep yours in a zipped plastic bag when not in use!!
I remember a time when the
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 20:49 — Ken Hall (not verified)I remember a time when the US gov worked well for the general population and the middle class, then along came RR and "smaller gov't", which is code for "gov't that in no way challenges the right of corporations to profit no matter how it destroys the environment or sickens and kills the populace". The NOAA gave the gulf spill a pass on pollution because it is wholly in the pocket of large corporations, and will be until US voters start electing a different class of politician. As in everything, there are good politicians and bad politicians, and we've had a three decade run of mostly the bad kind. I'm no quitter, I'm still working to elect progressives who will restore a robust federal gov't that has the clout to stand up to large corporations and make them clean up their messes, stop off-shoring jobs, pay decent wages and in general act like they have an interest in a viable US society.
You're joking right? They
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 20:55 — Anonymous (not verified)You're joking right? They posted the coordinates for the samples that were taken so if you don't believe it then get off your computer and go check it out yourself! That is of course unless you are not really serious about it and just spouting off about things you know little about. Some people! sheesh!
This is not a party issue.
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 21:09 — Anita Stewart (not verified)This is not a party issue. 37,000 + operational rigs exist in the Gulf and they have been there for decades. Basically our leaders on both sides of the aisle sold our gulf to the corporations and let them do what they want with no oversight or legitimate back up plan. All of our leaders took money from BIG OIL and they are all complicit in the crime scene in the Gulf Region. Forget the parties for a minute. This is a people issue, they are the victims of a crime and they are sick with compromised immune systems forever. They will likely die early deaths because of toxic exposure. The Gulf Region is suffering economically. This is ecocide and genocide and reporters that are covering this area need to be using those terms, they are accurate and hopefully will shake Americans up.
The answer to all your
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 21:12 — Cheryl (not verified)The answer to all your questions is:
CORPORATIONS = GOVERNMENT
Therefore, corporations/government goals are to empty our pockets, control the masses, reap the profits and to hell with patriotism and the Constitution and WE, THE PEOPLE. FOLLOW THE MONEY AND THE GUNS. From here to every country out there that gets both from the U.S. Also, keep an eye on assassinations of officials from other countries IN other countries. Then again, FOLLOW THE MONEY AND WATCH THE POWER CHANGE HANDS. Watch out for unexplained "suicides and plane crashes", both popular phenomenon when it comes to people who have ticked off somebody important or refused to cooperate or may know too much. Interesting and disgusting how this democracy has come to work. Not what one would expect from the "home of the free, and the land of the brave". The free aren't so "free" any longer, and the brave are being picked off one by one and being blown up in other countries. God Bless those who have sacrificed their lives ... for what cause?? God Bless their families.
And the corruption in America is alive and well.
...thanks to dahr jamail &
Mon, 10/04/2010 - 23:04 — Anonymous (not verified)...thanks to dahr jamail & erika blumenthal for more excellent work, for telling the story, for being the eyes and voice of the waters and shores and gulf life, and of the fragile & dying ecosystems in the gulf. i was struck by the term 'ecocide' used by one of the other comments and immediately made it part of my writing vocab.
From 1936 Mr. Wm Dodd US
Tue, 10/05/2010 - 13:14 — JOAN (not verified)From 1936 Mr. Wm Dodd US ambassador to Germany:
"When industrialists ignore laws designed for social and economic progress they will seek recourse to a fascist state when the institutions of our government compel them to comply with the provisions.”
So when we say, "The
Tue, 10/05/2010 - 16:09 — Anonymous (not verified)So when we say, "The government says ..." who are we talking about? Who in the govt. claims all is well in the Gulf? Go ahead. Eat, play, fish. Of course BP says it. So who is lying for our government and does it go to the top? Isn't it time to ask these questions and publish the findings of TO and others?
The reason the Govt is
Wed, 10/06/2010 - 01:10 — Anonymous (not verified)The reason the Govt is helping cover this up is because BP is one of the worlds largest creditors with over 100 years of reserves to back that line of credit. Great Britain would be decimated by the destruction of BP (think pension funds). So our govt is helping with the cover up to keep the thread that is holding western civilization's financial situation from snapping. We'll see how long can they keep this charade going before the evidence becomes overwhelming.
Get out of your cars. Start
Fri, 10/08/2010 - 19:01 — Claire F (not verified)Get out of your cars. Start walking,cycling,carpooling, taking public transportion. Stop taking plastic bags or buying takeout from restaurants that use styrofoam. This problem will not stop until we the people stop expecting oil to be part of everything we do. Americans use 6.5X as much gasoline per capita as Europeans. Can we aim for 5 or 4 or 3 or 2? Maybe you can't do it all at once but take small steps. Join a local environmental group and be part of the solution, not just a complainer.
Expecting the Government
Tue, 10/12/2010 - 13:45 — Frances in California (not verified)Expecting the Government (which is still entirely too full of "No-Everything Democratic" Republicans) to regulate away the problems of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is like closing the barn door after the horse has run away (by the way, any new drilling permits issued?). The People need our own prosecutors to indict BP CEOs; don't let them make low-hanging-fruit managers take the fall - go after the guys at the top, who are making out like bandits; include high-level Pentagon officers who, tho' they never saw combat, are making fortunes proferring BP to the Military. All their assets need to be seized for clean-up of the Gulf and restoration of some kind of livelihood to its citizens.