Curtas do Bryant´s

NIC – updated estimate of size of Gulf of Mexico oil spill

The National Incident Command (NIC) issued a news release stating that US scientists have updated their estimate of the size of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. This estimate, which draws heavily on recent reservoir modeling and on pressure readings of a closed system, is the most accurate to date and has an uncertainty of plus or minus approximately 10%. An estimated 62,000 barrels per day were leaking from the wellhead at the beginning. This gradually decreased over the 87 days until the well was capped. By that time, due largely to decreased pressure from the reservoir, the flow rate had decreased to an estimated 53,000 barrels per day. Overall, scientists estimate the approximately 4.9 million barrels (~780 milhões de litros) of oil have been released from the well. Not all of this oil escaped into the ocean. Containment activities conducted by BP under federal government direction captured approximately 600,000 barrels of oil prior to the capping of the well. (8/2/10).

House – bill introduced to audit oil spill damages fund

Representative Brady (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 6016) to provide for a GAO investigation and audit of the operations of the fund created by BP to compensate persons affected by the Gulf oil spill. Official text of this bill is not yet available. (7/30/10).

House – bill introduced to assess health of oil spill workers

Representative Capps (D-CA) introduced a bill (H.R. 6017) to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that the Federal Government has independent, peer-reviewed scientific data and information to assess short-term and long-term direct and indirect impacts on the health of oil spill clean-up workers and vulnerable residents resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for other purposes. Official text of this bill is not yet available. (7/30/10).

House – bill introduced tax benefits of oil spill violators

Representative Engel (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 6031) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny certain tax benefits to persons responsible for an oil spill if such person commits certain additional violations. Official text of this bill is not yet available. (7/30/10).

House – bill introduced Iran sanctions violators

Representative Klein (D-FL) introduced a bill (H.R. 6043) to restrict participation in offshore oil and gas leasing by a person who engages in any activity for which sanctions may be imposed under section 5 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, to require the lessee under an offshore oil and gas lease to discloses any participation by the lessee in certain energy-related joint ventures, investments, or partnerships located outside Iran, and for other purposes. Official text of this bill is not yet available. (7/30/10).

House – bill introduced re reimbursement of state oil spill removal costs

Representative Meek (D-FL) introduced a bill (H.R. 6053) to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to provide for timely consideration of claims submitted by States and political subdivisions for reimbursement of removal costs. Official text of this bill is not yet available. (7/30/10).

House – questions raised use of dispersants to combat oil spill

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce sent a letter to the National Incident Commander regarding use of dispersants to combat the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) issued a press release asserting that the information provided by BP and the US Coast Guard regarding dispersant use is inconsistent and that dispersant use has been in excess of that provided for in the directive issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The National Incident Commander (NIC) commented at a press briefing that the goal of reducing use of dispersants has been achieved, but that there are occasions when there are no good alternatives. The EPA issued a news release concurring with the approach utilized by the NIC in addressing dispersant use. (8/2/10).

Singapore – reminder threat posed by Somali pirates

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular reminding ship owners, operators, and masters of the continued threat posed by Somali pirates to ships transiting the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean near the coast of Somalia. Masters should check in with the UK Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) and the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) before entering these waters. Shipping Circular 9-2010 (7/30/10). Fonte: Dennis Bryant.