Gulf Oil Spill May Affect East Coast

By Tyler Marshall

Scientists are now speaking of a possible threat of oil spreading to the east coast from the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers have recently told the AP that computer models show oil may have already reached the Caribbean stream called the “Loop Current.” The Loop Current is what moves water circularly around the Gulf of Mexico.
William Hogarth, dean of the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, had some insight on the matter. He claimed that one computer model showed oil already in the Loop Current. Could it already be too late for BP to stop the spread of oil to to our eastern seaboard? Expert Stewart Farrell, director of the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College, says it may be. Farrell explained that the Loop Current feeds out of the Gulf between Cuba and Florida, and into the Gulf Stream. How long does BP have until the oil reaches the Atlantic? The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) has been taking photographs of the Gulf since the disaster occurred. With satellite images showing massive surface area spreading of the oil, many scientists fear this hypothetical will soon be reality.
Farrell reminds us that the Gulf Stream reaches as far as the north Atlantic, near Ireland. Will Charleston soon see oil on its beautiful beaches? If it does, the ecosystem, as well as city life and economy, will be greatly affected. Oil in the Gulf Stream means that oil will flow up the coast all the way to Cape Hatteras, NC, where it most likely would start moving east into the Atlantic.

The Damage So Far

The well leaks as much as 800,000 gallons of crude oil a day. This staggering figure shows that approximately every 10 days of this leak is tantamount to one Exxon Valdez spill. Should BP be held responsible for all damages caused by the leak? The Obama administration has recently given BP an order to pay $69 million in damages. The company has until July 1 to settle this order with the White House. The money is to help pay for federal expenses as well as the Department of Defense and Coast Guard deployment with state support of the cleanup. The House of Representatives voted, in a 410-0 landslide, to allow more funding to the Coast Guard for the cleanup of the Gulf coast. The bill will now go in front of President Obama for the final stage of the legislative process. If the bill is passed, it will lift the $100 million spending cap that was formerly given to the Coast Guard for the cleanup effort. Will BP be held responsible for the additional cost?
BP has not only caused problems with our ecosystem, but with its shareholders and the rest of the economy, as well. Since the April 20 explosion of the Gulf well,the company's share price has fallen nearly 50 percent. This figure is equivalent to $90 billion in market value lost by shareholders. Could this ultimately have effects on life in Charleston? Our national economy will surely let us know soon. With fishermen, business owners, and property owners filing damage claims with BP almost every day, that time may come sooner than later. BP is required, underfederal law, to pay for many damages such as property damage and lost earnings. Is there any end to the damages that could be incurred? Could the oil have an effect on food prices in Charleston's hospitality-driven market? Only time will tell.

Locals Taking Action

An attorney representing Bell Legal Group in Georgetown, SC has filed a federal class-action law suite against BP, Halliburton, Cameron International, and Transocean for alleged damages to local tourism and hospitality business. “Hopefully, this gets BP's attention to do something before it gets here,” said Aron Jophlin, an attorney from the Bell Legal Group. When asked what he thought about this statement, a local restaurant manager said, “I hope more businesses take the same stance... we have already had many cancellations because people don't trust seafood anymore.”