Oil industry assurances not enough
Statement by Derb Carter, senior attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center, on new spill response plan by major oil companies
Derb Carter, Director, NC/SC Office in Chapel Hill, 919-967-1450
Kathleen Sullivan, Communications Manager, 919-967-1450 (email)
CHAPEL HILL, NC –
“Relying on assurances from the oil industry about the likelihood and severity of spills and their spill response capabilities is part of what led to the nation’s worst environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Oil industry assurances of plans to contain deepwater spills don’t carry much weight after three months of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging industries and livelihoods, ways of life, and crucial ecosystems across the Gulf. It’ll take much more than oil company plans and assurances to overcome the industry’s demonstrated inability to prevent and control a deepwater blowout and spill.
“The Gulf disaster brought to light many regulatory, technological, and oversight problems that must be resolved before deepwater drilling can resume, if it can resume.”
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About Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC's team of 40 legal experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use.
WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org
