{ "id": "R41262", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "number": "R41262", "active": false, "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department, EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc819900/", "id": "R41262_2010Jul31", "date": "2010-07-31", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100731_R41262_401ef4cd44170d6b85904e762d0de3664e5df465.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100731_R41262_401ef4cd44170d6b85904e762d0de3664e5df465.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 437802, "date": "2010-07-30", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T01:33:06.771230", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress", "summary": "On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in 11 worker fatalities, a massive oil release, and a national response effort in the Gulf of Mexico region by the federal and state governments as well as BP. Based on estimates from the Flow Rate Technical Group, which is led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill is the largest oil spill in U.S. waters. The oil spill damaged natural resources, causing some regional economic impacts. In addition, questions have been raised as to whether offshore regulation of oil exploration has kept pace with the increasingly complex technologies needed to explore and develop deeper waters.\nCrude oil washed into some marshes and estuaries and onto beaches in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Oil killed some wildlife, and efforts are underway to treat oil-coated birds. The most immediate economic impact of the oil spill has been on the Gulf fishing industry: commercial and recreational fishing have faced extensive prohibitions within the federal waters of the Gulf exclusive economic zone. The fishing industry, including seafood processing and related wholesale and retail businesses, supports over 200,000 jobs with related economic activity of $5.5 billion. Other immediate economic impacts include a decline in tourism. On the other hand, jobs related to cleanup activities could mitigate some of the losses in the fishing and tourism industry.\nThe Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), formerly known as the Minerals Management Service (MMS), and the U.S. Coast Guard are the primary regulators of drilling activity. The Coast Guard generally overseas the safety of systems at the platform level of a mobile offshore drilling unit. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has multiple responsibilities, with a representative serving as the vice-chair of the National Response Team and Regional Response Teams. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has responsibilities with respect to the economic impacts of the spill; its role so far has been primarily that of an observer, but that may change once the scope of impacts can be better understood.\nBOEMRE/MMS is also the lead regulatory authority for offshore oil and gas leasing, including collection of royalty payments. Its regulations generally require that a company with leasing obligations demonstrate that proposed oil and gas activity conforms to federal laws and regulations, is safe, prevents waste, does not unreasonably interfere with other uses of the outer continental shelf, and does not cause impermissible harm or damage to the human, marine, or coastal environments. Further attention to the internal organization of BOEMRE/MMS is an ongoing legislative and regulatory focus. \nSeveral issues are developing for Congress as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. Questions include: What lessons should be drawn from the incident? What technological and regulatory changes may be needed to meet risks peculiar to drilling in deeper water? How should Congress distribute costs associated with a catastrophic oil spill? What interventions, if any, may be necessary to ensure recovery of Gulf resources and amenities? What does the Deepwater Horizon incident imply for national energy policy, and the trade-offs between energy needs, risks of deepwater drilling, and protection of natural resources and amenities? This report provides an overview of selected issues related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and is not intended to be comprehensive. This report will not be updated.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41262", "sha1": "e8ad5da13060133f7fdad68ac43a5706dc6b9d59", "filename": "files/20100730_R41262_e8ad5da13060133f7fdad68ac43a5706dc6b9d59.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41262", "sha1": "48f136740c21407fab250546d5d023a1179d629c", "filename": "files/20100730_R41262_48f136740c21407fab250546d5d023a1179d629c.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491512/", "id": "R41262_2010Jul15", "date": "2010-07-15", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress", "summary": "On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in 11 worker fatalities, a massive oil release, and a national response effort in the Gulf of Mexico region by the federal and state governments as well as BP. Based on estimates from the Flow Rate Technical Group, which is led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the 2010 Gulf spill has become the largest oil spill in U.S. waters. The oil spill has damaged natural resources and has had regional economic impacts. In addition, questions have been raised as to whether offshore regulation of oil exploration has kept pace with the increasingly complex technologies needed to explore and develop deeper waters. This report provides an initial overview of Deepwater Horizon-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to in-depth CRS reports on specific issues.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100715_R41262_e13e51388b5ffdf622d08c9349965ced36192daa.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100715_R41262_e13e51388b5ffdf622d08c9349965ced36192daa.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Petroleum industry", "name": "Petroleum industry" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil industries", "name": "Oil industries" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil pollution", "name": "Oil pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental degradation", "name": "Environmental degradation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491587/", "id": "R41262_2010Jun18", "date": "2010-06-18", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress", "summary": "On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in 11 worker fatalities, a massive oil release, and a national response effort in the Gulf of Mexico region by the federal and state governments as well as BP. This report provides an overview of selected issues related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and is not intended to be comprehensive.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100618_R41262_12b9cf8c807afe944addc896f50b56567b4b6179.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100618_R41262_12b9cf8c807afe944addc896f50b56567b4b6179.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Petroleum industry", "name": "Petroleum industry" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil pollution", "name": "Oil pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Liability for environmental damages", "name": "Liability for environmental damages" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Liability for oil pollution", "name": "Liability for oil pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil industries", "name": "Oil industries" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental degradation", "name": "Environmental degradation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc491203/", "id": "R41262_2010May27", "date": "2010-05-27", "retrieved": "2015-01-27T19:40:46", "title": "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Selected Issues for Congress", "summary": "On April 20, 2010, an explosion and fire occurred on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This resulted in 11 worker fatalities, a massive oil release, and a national response effort in the Gulf of Mexico region by the federal and state governments as well as BP. This report provides an overview of selected issues related to the Deepwater Horizon incident and is not intended to be comprehensive.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100527_R41262_8ec8c79dcdd27146fc382dcc10b1572d280df201.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100527_R41262_8ec8c79dcdd27146fc382dcc10b1572d280df201.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Petroleum industry", "name": "Petroleum industry" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil pollution", "name": "Oil pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Liability for environmental damages", "name": "Liability for environmental damages" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Liability for oil pollution", "name": "Liability for oil pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Oil industries", "name": "Oil industries" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental degradation", "name": "Environmental degradation" } ] } ], "topics": [ "American Law", "Economic Policy", "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy", "Transportation Policy" ] }