How did the BP oil spill affect Florida?
When oil soaked 1,300 miles of Gulf shoreline, beaches turned sticky with black tar and tourism came to a halt. More than 10 million user-days of beach, fishing and boating activity were lost because of closures following the spill.
Was there an oil spill in Florida?
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred on April 20, 2010 and caused significant impacts to Florida’s natural resources and economy.
When was the BP oil spill in Florida?
April 20, 2010
About Florida’s Deepwater Horizon Program On April 20, 2010, the offshore oil drilling platform Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
How does the BP oil spill affect us today?
The BP oil continues polluting the gulf even today, according to recently released findings by scientists from the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Sciences. It’s still affecting fish and other marine species.
Who did BP oil spill affect?
Eleven rig workers lost their lives. So did untold millions of marine mammals, sea turtles, birds, and fish. While the world watched, helpless, oil gushed into one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine habitats for 87 long days.
Is the Gulf oil spill still leaking?
In May 2019, the Coast Guard reported the oil leak was finally being at least partially contained. Lawyers for the government filed a status report stating that a new containment system “is now fully installed and operating as planned.” The system is collecting about 1,260 gallons of oil per day, according to NOAA.
What is the spill in Florida?
In a statement issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on April 7, roughly 170 million gallons of wastewater was leaked into Tampa Bay. However, spokeswoman Shannon Herbon of the FDEP said the spill has been temporarily contained.
What are the long term effects of the BP oil spill?
A similar study found that citizens on the Gulf Coast had increased levels of anxiety, depression, and respiratory issues that lasted for several years after the catastrophe. Other coastal residents had similar symptoms including skin rashes, muscle cramps, pneumonia, migraines, and much more.
How much damage did the BP oil spill cause?
We may never know the full extent of the ecological damage. BP paid dearly for the reckless corporate culture of cost-cutting and excessive risk-taking that caused the spill: more than US$60 billion in criminal and civil penalties, natural resource damages, economic claims and cleanup costs.
How does oil spills affect the environment?
When oils rigs or machinery malfunction or break, thousands of tons of oil can seep into the environment. Oil spill effects on environments and habitats can be catastrophic: they can kill plants and animals, disturb salinity/pH levels, pollute air/water and more. Read more about the types of oil pollution.
What is the environmental impact of the BP oil spill?
BP Oil Spill: Facts and Environmental Impact 1 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The rig exploded in the northern Gulf of Mexico, causing a leak in BP’s Macondo wellhead located 1,525 meters (almost a mile) below the water’s surface. 2 Cleanup Efforts. 3 Environmental Impact. 4 Aftermath and Legacy.
Where is the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
Smoke rises from a controlled burn of oil on the surface of the water near the site of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2010. Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images
What was the worst offshore oil spill in United States history?
The BP Oil Spill was the worst offshore oil spill in United States history. From April 20, 2010 to July 15, 2010, an estimated 134 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.
Who is responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill?
After the spill, a federal joint task force was assigned to determine the cause of the oil spill. They concluded that BP, Transocean and Halliburton, the contractor used to seal the damaged well, shared responsibility for the explosion and consequent damages, but that BP was “ultimately responsible”.