2:25 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I just concluded a constructive meeting with BP’s chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, and I raised two issues at the meeting.  First was the containment of the oil that is still spewing into the Gulf.  As I mentioned last night, my administration has directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology, and in the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90 percent of the oil that is leaking out of the well. 

Now, that’s not good enough.  So we will continue to press BP and draw on our best minds and resources to capture the rest of the oil until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely. 

The second topic revolved around the issue of claims.  As I traveled across the Gulf I heard growing frustration over the pace at which claims had been paid.  And I also heard concerns about whether BP will make resources available to cover legitimate claims resulting from this disaster.  So this discussion today was essential.

Currently, under federal law, there is a $75 million cap on how much oil companies could under certain circumstances be required to pay for economic damages resulting from a spill such as this.  That amount obviously would be insufficient.  That’s why I'm pleased to announce that BP has agreed to set aside $20 billion to pay claims for damages resulting from this spill.

     This $20 billion will provide substantial assurance that the claims people and businesses have will be honored.  It’s also important to emphasize this is not a cap.  The people of the Gulf have my commitment that BP will meet its obligations to them.  BP has publicly pledged to make good on the claims that it owes to the people in the Gulf, and so the agreement we reached sets up a financial and legal framework to do it. 

Another important element is that this $20 billion fund will not be controlled by either BP or by the government.  It will be put in a escrow account, administered by an impartial, independent third party.  So if you or your business has suffered an economic loss as a result of this spill, you’ll be eligible to file a claim for part of this $20 billion.  This fund does not supersede either individuals’ rights or states’ rights to present claims in court.  BP will also continue to be liable for the environmental disaster it has caused, and we’re going to continue to work to make sure that they address it.

Additionally, BP voluntarily agreed to establish a $100 million fund to compensate unemployed oil rig workers affected by the closure of the deepwater rigs. 

We’ve mutually agreed that Ken Feinberg will run the independent claims process we’re putting in place.  And there will be a three-person panel to adjudicate claims that are turned down.  Every effort will be made to expedite these claims.  Ken has long experience in such matters, including running the fund that compensated the victims of 9/11.  And I’m confident he will ensure that claims are administered as quickly, as fairly, and as transparently as possible.

BP’s liabilities for this spill are significant -- and they acknowledge that fact.  We will continue to hold BP and all other responsible parties accountable.  And I’m absolutely confident BP will be able to meet its obligations to the Gulf Coast and to the American people.  BP is a strong and viable company and it is in all of our interests that it remain so.  So what this is about is accountability.  At the end of the day, that’s what every American wants and expects.

The structure we’re establishing today is an important step towards making the people of the Gulf Coast whole again, but it’s not going to turn things around overnight.  And I want all Americans to know that I will continue to fight each and every day until the oil is contained, until businesses recover, and until the Gulf Coast bounces back from this tragedy, as I know it will.

One last point.  During a private conversation with Chairman Svanberg I emphasized to him that for the families that I met with down in the Gulf, for the small business owners, for the fishermen, for the shrimpers, this is not just a matter of dollars and cents; that a lot of these folks don’t have a cushion.  They were coming off Rita and Katrina; coming off the worst economy that this country has seen since the Great Depression, and this season was going to be the season where they were going to be bouncing back.  Not only that, but this happened, from their perspective, at the worst possible time, because they’re making their entire income for the year in the three or four months during which folks can take their boats out, people are coming down for tourism. 

And so I emphasized to the chairman that when he’s talking to shareholders, when he is in meetings in his boardroom, to keep in mind those individuals; that they are desperate; that some of them, if they don’t get relief quickly, may lose businesses that have been in their families for two or three generations.  And the chairman assured me that he would keep them in mind.

That’s going to be the standard by which I measure BP’s responsiveness.  I think today was a good start, and it should provide some assurance to some of the small business owners and individuals down in the Gulf who I was visiting with that BP is going to meet its responsibilities.  But I indicated to the chairman that, throughout this process, as we work to make sure that the Gulf is made whole once again, that the standard I’m going to be applying is whether or not those individuals I met with, their family members, those communities that are vulnerable, whether they are uppermost in the minds of all concerned.  That’s who we’re doing this work for.

All right.  Thank you very much, everybody. 

END
2:33 P.M. EDT

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Like what President Obama stated, BP set a sided for $20 billion fund and will not be controlled by either BP or by the government.

It will be put in a escrow account, administered by an impartial, independent third party which shows that the business has suffered an economic loss because of the BP Oil Spill more likely will be eligible to file a claim for part of this $20 billion.

The White House reported that this fund does not supersede either individuals’ rights or states’ rights to present claims in court. The President Obama will continue to assure until the BP Oil spill to be fully recovered also BP will also continue to be liable for the environmental disaster it has caused, and the White House is going to continue to work to make sure that they address it.

The following fact sheet shows A New Process and a New Escrow Account for Gulf Oil Spill Claims from BP :

This clip is an extra to show from the White House about the BP Oil Spill damage support:

BP is committed to paying all legitimate claims for damages resulting from the oil spill and necessary response costs. This includes:

• Property damage
• Net loss of profits and earning capacity
• Subsistence loss and natural resource damage
• Removal and cleanup costs
• Cost of increased public services
• Net loss of government revenue

BP also will evaluate all claims for bodily injury even though they are not payable under the Oil Spill Pollution Act of 1990.

BP has established a process for individuals and businesses to file claims to cover losses and/or damage. File a claim by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-440-0858 (TTY device 1-800-572-3053), or by submitting a form online for Individuals and businesses.

The Administration will continue to hold BP responsible for all removal costs and damages associated with the BP oil spill, including efforts to stop the leak at its source, reduce the spread of oil and protect the shoreline and mitigate damages, to the maximum extent possible under the law. This link shows that how to claim online for the BP Oil Spill damaged areas.

Sources:

White House
Youtube

Disaster Assistance (Access to Disaster Help and Resources)

catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, June 19, 2010

8:01 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening.  As we speak, our nation faces a multitude of challenges.  At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American.  Abroad, our brave men and women in uniform are taking the fight to al Qaeda wherever it exists.  And tonight, I’ve returned from a trip to the Gulf Coast to speak with you about the battle we’re waging against an oil spill that is assaulting our shores and our citizens.

On April 20th, an explosion ripped through BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana.  Eleven workers lost their lives.  Seventeen others were injured.  And soon, nearly a mile beneath the surface of the ocean, oil began spewing into the water.

Because there has never been a leak this size at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology.  That’s why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation’s best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge -- a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation’s Secretary of Energy.  Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice.

As a result of these efforts, we’ve directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology.  And in the coming weeks and days, these efforts should capture up to 90 percent of the oil leaking out of the well.  This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that’s expected to stop the leak completely. 

Already, this oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced.  And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it’s not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days.  The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years. 

But make no mistake:  We will fight this spill with everything we’ve got for as long as it takes.  We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused.  And we will do whatever’s necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy. 

Tonight I’d like to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward:  what we’re doing to clean up the oil, what we’re doing to help our neighbors in the Gulf, and what we’re doing to make sure that a catastrophe like this never happens again. 

First, the cleanup.  From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation’s history -- an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost 40 years of experience responding to disasters.  We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and clean up the oil.  Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf.  And I’ve authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast.  These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, they’re ready to help clean the beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims -- and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible. 

Because of our efforts, millions of gallons of oil have already been removed from the water through burning, skimming and other collection methods.  Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil.  We’ve approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try to stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we’re working with Alabama, Mississippi and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines. 

As the cleanup continues, we will offer whatever additional resources and assistance our coastal states may need.  Now, a mobilization of this speed and magnitude will never be perfect, and new challenges will always arise.  I saw and heard evidence of that during this trip.  So if something isn’t working, we want to hear about it.  If there are problems in the operation, we will fix them. 

But we have to recognize that despite our best efforts, oil has already caused damage to our coastline and its wildlife.  And sadly, no matter how effective our response is, there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done.  That’s why the second thing we’re focused on is the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast. 

You know, for generations, men and women who call this region home have made their living from the water.  That living is now in jeopardy.  I’ve talked to shrimpers and fishermen who don’t know how they’re going to support their families this year.  I’ve seen empty docks and restaurants with fewer customers -– even in areas where the beaches are not yet affected.  I’ve talked to owners of shops and hotels who wonder when the tourists might start coming back.  The sadness and the anger they feel is not just about the money they’ve lost.  It’s about a wrenching anxiety that their way of life may be lost. 

I refuse to let that happen.  Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company’s recklessness.  And this fund will not be controlled by BP.  In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent third party. 

Beyond compensating the people of the Gulf in the short term, it’s also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region.  The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that’s already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and habitats.  And the region still hasn’t recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  That’s why we must make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment. 

I make that commitment tonight.  Earlier, I asked Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy, who is also a former governor of Mississippi and a son of the Gulf Coast, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible.  The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservationists and other Gulf residents.  And BP will pay for the impact this spill has had on the region.  

The third part of our response plan is the steps we’re taking to ensure that a disaster like this does not happen again.  A few months ago, I approved a proposal to consider new, limited offshore drilling under the assurance that it would be absolutely safe –- that the proper technology would be in place and the necessary precautions would be taken.

That obviously was not the case in the Deepwater Horizon rig, and I want to know why.  The American people deserve to know why.  The families I met with last week who lost their loved ones in the explosion -- these families deserve to know why.  And so I’ve established a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards we need to put in place.  Already, I’ve issued a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling.  I know this creates difficulty for the people who work on these rigs, but for the sake of their safety, and for the sake of the entire region, we need to know the facts before we allow deepwater drilling to continue.  And while I urge the Commission to complete its work as quickly as possible, I expect them to do that work thoroughly and impartially.       

One place we’ve already begun to take action is at the agency in charge of regulating drilling and issuing permits, known as the Minerals Management Service.  Over the last decade, this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility -- a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves.  At this agency, industry insiders were put in charge of industry oversight.  Oil companies showered regulators with gifts and favors, and were essentially allowed to conduct their own safety inspections and write their own regulations.  

When Ken Salazar became my Secretary of the Interior, one of his very first acts was to clean up the worst of the corruption at this agency.  But it’s now clear that the problem there ran much deeper, and the pace of reform was just too slow.  And so Secretary Salazar and I are bringing in new leadership at the agency -- Michael Bromwich, who was a tough federal prosecutor and Inspector General.  And his charge over the next few months is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry’s watchdog -- not its partner. 

So one of the lessons we’ve learned from this spill is that we need better regulations, better safety standards, and better enforcement when it comes to offshore drilling.  But a larger lesson is that no matter how much we improve our regulation of the industry, drilling for oil these days entails greater risk.  After all, oil is a finite resource.  We consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves.  And that’s part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean -- because we’re running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water. 

For decades, we have known the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered.  For decades, we’ve talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels.  And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires.  Time and again, the path forward has been blocked -- not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor.  

The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight.  Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be right here in America.  Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil.  And today, as we look to the Gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude.

We cannot consign our children to this future.  The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now.  Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny.

This is not some distant vision for America.  The transition away from fossil fuels is going to take some time, but over the last year and a half, we’ve already taken unprecedented action to jumpstart the clean energy industry.  As we speak, old factories are reopening to produce wind turbines, people are going back to work installing energy-efficient windows, and small businesses are making solar panels.  Consumers are buying more efficient cars and trucks, and families are making their homes more energy-efficient.  Scientists and researchers are discovering clean energy technologies that someday will lead to entire new industries. 

Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us.  As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -– but only if we accelerate that transition.  Only if we seize the moment.  And only if we rally together and act as one nation –- workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors.  
When I was a candidate for this office, I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence.  Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill –- a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America’s businesses. 

Now, there are costs associated with this transition.  And there are some who believe that we can’t afford those costs right now.  I say we can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy -– because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater. 

So I’m happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party -– as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels.  Some have suggested raising efficiency standards in our buildings like we did in our cars and trucks.  Some believe we should set standards to ensure that more of our electricity comes from wind and solar power.  Others wonder why the energy industry only spends a fraction of what the high-tech industry does on research and development -– and want to rapidly boost our investments in such research and development.   

All of these approaches have merit, and deserve a fair hearing in the months ahead.  But the one approach I will not accept is inaction.  The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and too difficult to meet.  You know, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II.  The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon.  And yet, time and again, we have refused to settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom.  Instead, what has defined us as a nation since our founding is the capacity to shape our destiny -– our determination to fight for the America we want for our children.  Even if we’re unsure exactly what that looks like.  Even if we don’t yet know precisely how we’re going to get there.  We know we’ll get there.   

It’s a faith in the future that sustains us as a people.  It is that same faith that sustains our neighbors in the Gulf right now.        

Each year, at the beginning of shrimping season, the region’s fishermen take part in a tradition that was brought to America long ago by fishing immigrants from Europe.  It’s called “The Blessing of the Fleet,” and today it’s a celebration where clergy from different religions gather to say a prayer for the safety and success of the men and women who will soon head out to sea -– some for weeks at a time. 
The ceremony goes on in good times and in bad.  It took place after Katrina, and it took place a few weeks ago –- at the beginning of the most difficult season these fishermen have ever faced. 

And still, they came and they prayed.  For as a priest and former fisherman once said of the tradition, “The blessing is not that God has promised to remove all obstacles and dangers.  The blessing is that He is with us always,” a blessing that’s granted “even in the midst of the storm.” 

The oil spill is not the last crisis America will face.  This nation has known hard times before and we will surely know them again.  What sees us through -– what has always seen us through –- is our strength, our resilience, and our unyielding faith that something better awaits us if we summon the courage to reach for it.

Tonight, we pray for that courage.  We pray for the people of the Gulf.  And we pray that a hand may guide us through the storm towards a brighter day.  Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

END
8:18 P.M. EDT

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As President Obama emphasis to jump start for the clean energy for energy efficient, In Seattle facility, NOAA’s Monitors Environmental Impact: On June 8th, Tuesday, Senator Patty Murray visited NOAA’s Seattle facilities to see how they are supporting the oil spill clean-up effort in the Gulf Coast. She also received a briefing on the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s work to monitor the impacts on the ecosystem in the Gulf Coast. Senator Patty Murray have recently co-sponsored a bill that would make sure oil companies are held accountable for the enormous economic costs resulting from spills. Currently, the responsible party in an oil spill must cover all costs related to clean up; however there is a $75 million cap on its liability for economic damages, such as lost business revenues from fishing and tourism, natural resources damages or lost local tax revenues.  Senator Patty Murray is in working to ensure that there is no liability cap so that oil companies like BP will have to take full responsibility for the disastrous effects of these spills. See below detail info via Youtube: In seattle, NOAA's Co-Director is Dr. Amy Merten. Dr. Amy Merten is an environmental scientist with NOAA’s OR&R and is based in Seattle, WA and Durham, NH. She recently worked on several major spills, including the M/V Athos (Delaware River), the M/V Selendang Ayu (Unalaska, AK), and several spills on the Mississippi corridor caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Amy brings expertise from the field of spill response and an academic perspective through her doctoral research examining the sublethal impacts of long-term exposures of dietary uptake of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) on fish. She received her doctoral (2005) and masters (1999) degrees in Marine, Estuarine and Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Maryland, and earned a B.A. in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder (1992). In recently, NOAA and Co-Trustees Reach Agreement With Boeing to Restore Fish and Bird Habitat in Lower Duwamish Waterway. Boeing and the Elliott Bay Trustee Council (comprised of NOAA, US Department of Interior, State of Washington, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Suquamish Tribe) have reached an agreement that will result in the restoration of significant fish and bird habitat in the Lower Duwamish River. The Duwamish River runs through downtown Seattle, WA and contains three Superfund sites related to historical contamination from shipping, manufacturing and other heavy industries. See the location of the map for Seattle DAAP area See more detail via Northwest Region DARRP website: which explains Damage Assessment, Remediation, & Restoration Program which the case will show the Elliott Bay/Duwamish River, Washington State Meanwhile, the Boeing 2009 Environment Report shows that The biggest environment support for the clean air is alternative fuels, for example, all of the Boeing airplanes—including the 787—may benefit from the potential of using alternative fuels that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions over their life-cycles which the most exciting and innovative achievements over the past year have been in the development and testing of a diverse set of sustainable, plant-based fuels. Airlines Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Continental and JAL have all worked with Boeing, engine manufacturers and fuel developers to conduct demonstration flights in real-world flight conditions. Initial results have been positive. These flights are proving the economic and environmental viability of biofuels derived from jatropha, algae and camelina— sustainable fuels that don't compete with food and land resources. And the diversity of viable sources increases the potential for making them available to more regions of the world and accelerating market viability. Here is a New NOAA Pilot for Climate Change Assessment launched in Puget Sound, WA. See the below for the location of map The red highlited area shows the most high areas for the eco species and see the Example of CAPRI analysis in the Snohomish Estuary in 2100, displaying an Ecosystem/Species Vulnerability Index. Climate change will increase threats to NOAA trust resources. These threats include impacts from flooding or sea-level rise on coastal contaminated waste sites and chemical and oil storage facilities. In response, DARRP developed the Climate Assessment and Proactive Response Initiative (CAPRI) to provide a screening level vulnerability analysis of contaminant impacts in the coastal zone related to climate change. Through the improved understanding of these contaminant impacts to coastal resources, NOAA and other local, state, regional, and federal decision makers will be better able to prepare for and then adapt to climate change. A pilot is underway in the Puget Sound estuary in Washington State to test the methodology, which can be applied to coastal areas around the country. Analytical results will be displayed in the Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA), You can see more detail via this link: Special Project: Climate Assessment and Proactive Response Initiative (CAPRI) The biggest oil spill in the history of these decade in the United State America, BP oil spill, should be able to response through the well maintained and experienced NOAA.  NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. In addition to its civilian employees, NOAA research and operations are supported by 300 uniformed service members who make up the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The current Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the Department of Commerce, and the agency's Administrator, is Dr. Jane Lubchenco, nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate on March 19, 2009. See the below for NOAA's Logo and the NOAA's commissioned seal which shows that established since 1917.   NOAA works toward its mission through six major line offices in addition to more than a dozen staff offices: Line Offices The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service The National Marine Fisheries Service The National Ocean Service The National Weather Service Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Office of Program Planning and Integration   However BP will set aside $20 billion to pay the victims of the massive oil spill in the Gulf. A BP logo is seen at a petrol station in Birmingham, England, on June 10 (source: AP) According to the Christian Science Monitor, dated, June 16, 2010, WASHINGTON:  BP will set aside $20 billion to pay the victims of the massive oil spill in the Gulf, senior administration officials said Wednesday, a move made under pressure by the White House as the company copes with causing the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The independent fund will be led by lawyer Kenneth Feinberg, who oversaw payments to families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In his current role, Feinberg is known as Obama's "pay czar," setting salary limits for companies getting the most aid from a $700 billion government bailout fund. President Obama was to announce the deal in a Rose Garden statement later Wednesday after wrapping up a meeting with BP executives at the White House. The officials familiar with the details spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity so as not to trump the president. Although BP agreed to fund set a side for $20. billions but, you never know what other factor would come along when it related with the environment and health issues for the creatures include human health and earth that we have to take care as much as that is in the urgency to care about the climate change matter...... We all of us hoping and pray that BP oil spilled incident will recover the earth and ocean; costal, marine, and river and lake areas; and wildlife including the human  life to keep long term green eco environment as soon as possible....... White House NOAA Ecosystem Goal Team Northwest Region DARRP Boeing 2009 Environment Report Wikipedia Senator Patty Murray's Website  Christian Science Monitor, dated, June 16, 2010 Yahoo Youtube catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, June 16, 2010

Remarks by the President After Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill Update

Louis Armstrong International Airport, New Orleans, Louisiana

2:29 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I want to thank everybody who participated in this meeting.  Most of the folks here were in the meeting that we had last week.  One of the encouraging signs is that, at least with respect to Louisiana, it seems that we made some progress. 

The most obvious area of progress was, coming out of the meeting last week, trying to bridge what seemed to be differences with respect to the berm, the barrier islands that Governor Jindal had proposed, and we now have that authority and dredging is beginning.  And now we want to make sure that BP is paying up, but it seems like we're making progress on that front.

I know that a lot of the press may be curious about what’s happening in terms of the attempts to cap the well.  I don't want to go into the technical details here.  I'd prefer Thad to give an update when he has had a chance to talk directly with command and control about what’s happening there.  But it does appear that the cap, at least for now, is holding; that some hydrocarbons are being sent up to the surface; and that they are still ratcheting up the amount of oil and gas that's being extracted -- they’re doing it carefully so that they don't dislodge or disrupt the cap in some fashion.

We will know more over the next 24 to 48 hours.  And it is way too early to be optimistic.  But we're just going to keep on monitoring it, and Thad will give you a more thorough briefing when he knows more.

We spent a lot of time here just talking about the logistics of the response on the shore as oil begins to come in.  And everybody here has particular concerns because we've got limited resources.  We're trying to get more boom, for example, into the places that are needed.  We deployed initially a lot of boom here in Louisiana.  That meant that some in Alabama wasn’t where it was supposed to be.  Governor Riley has been appropriately concerned -- that's a mild way of putting it -- about what’s being done with respect to Alabama plans.  And what I told him was, is that Thad Allen will be meeting with him individually with respect to the Alabama plan and if he’s not satisfied with the answers that are given over the course of this weekend, then he’s going to call me and we're going to meet and sort this out.

Here in Louisiana, where the oil has hit most rapidly, there are still areas where, for example, the mayor, here, was talking to fishermen; they want to try to build up some barriers to estuaries and areas that are particularly vulnerable.  Thad Allen is going to be following up with each of the parish presidents in terms of figuring out what’s going on.

One of the things that we've done to make sure that organizationally things are working the way they should is we now have a Coast Guard official who is stationed with each parish president and we actually have a BP representative who is stationed with each parish president, so that they have direct access to making sure that any information, any problems that they’ve got, are immediately being shot up to Thad and he can respond quickly.  And we want to set that up not just in Louisiana, but in Alabama as well as in Florida -- we want county equivalents to have that same kind of representation and rapid response.

We also talked about claims.  And this is an area where I think everybody has a lot of concern.  My understanding is, is that BP has contracted for $50 million worth of TV advertising to manage their image during the course of this disaster.  In addition, there are reports that BP will be paying $10.5 billion -- that's billion with a B -- in dividend payments this quarter.

Now, I don't have a problem with BP fulfilling its legal obligations.  But I want BP to be very clear, they’ve got moral and legal obligations here in the Gulf for the damage that has been done.  And what I don't want to hear is, when they’re spending that kind of money on their shareholders and spending that kind of money on TV advertising, that they’re nickel-and-diming fishermen or small businesses here in the Gulf who are having a hard time. 

We’ve assigned federal folks to look over BP’s shoulder and to work with state and local officials to make sure that claims are being processed quickly, fairly, and that BP is not lawyering up, essentially, when it comes to these claims. 

They say they want to make it right.  That’s part of their advertising campaign.  Well, we want them to make it right.  And what that means is that if a fisherman got a $5,000 check, and the next time he goes in, because it’s a new month, suddenly BP is saying, well, we need some documentation and this may take six months to process, or 60 days to process -- or 30 days to process, for that matter -- that fisherman, with all his money tied up in that boat, just may not be able to hang on for another 30 days.  He may lose his boat and his livelihood.

We heard from one of the parish presidents about a shrimp processing plant.  They’ve got a bunch of shrimp on ice, so they’re selling inventory, but they’re not bringing any new product in.  And BP says to them, well, you know what, your sales don't seem to have declined.  And they try to explain, yes, but we’ve had to lay off all our workers because we’re not bringing any new shrimp in and our cupboards are going to be bare in the next several weeks -- BP has got to be able to anticipate that.

So the key point I’m making here is, this has been a disaster for this region and people are understandably frightened and concerned about what the next few months and the new few years may hold.  I am absolutely confident about the resilience of this area long term, but if we can make sure that BP is doing the right thing on the front end, it’s going to make it an awful lot easier for us to fully recover on the back end.  And by the way, it may end up being cheaper for BP. 

And so Thad, who’s interacting with BP on a regular basis, I think is emphasizing this.  My administration is emphasizing it. I want them to hear directly from me and I want the public to hear from me -- they need to make sure that they are following through on these claims in a expeditious, fair way.  And if they’re not, then we are going to stay on them about it. 

We’ve already submitted one bill and they haven’t said that they’re not paying it, so I don’t want to anticipate problems. But we are already starting to see at the local level folks experiencing problems.  And we don’t want those problems to build up -- we want to nip that at the bud right now. 

And the fact that BP can pay a $10.5 billion dividend payment is indicative of how much money these folks have been making.  And given the fact that they didn’t fully account for the risks, I don’t want somebody else bearing the costs of those risks that they took.  I want to make sure that they’re paying for it.

All right.  The last point I wanted to make is we did talk about what the environmental quality is down here right now.  Lisa Jackson has been down here all week and she went all across the country -- or all across the state of Louisiana.  She’s going to be monitoring what’s going on in Alabama and Florida as well. 

So far, the air quality, water quality, is continually being tested and doesn’t seem to be much elevated above normal levels. But I want to emphasize something that she just told us, and that is people who are onsite involved in cleanup, they have to be mindful of the fact that we’re dealing with toxins here.  This could be -- this could make people very sick if they’re not careful.  They’ve got to get the appropriate training.  They need the appropriate equipment.  If they get sick, we now have health centers that are stationed at each of these points. 

Lisa, do you want to talk about that briefly?

ADMINISTRATOR JACKSON:  Yes, sir.  We have health and safety officers and stations at each muster point.  So if someone does come back in and feels in any way that they’ve been exposed, or even if they just don’t feel well, the first thing to do is to report it so that we have a record of it, we can track it down, and we can ensure that they’re not in any way penalized for reporting and making sure that they put their health and the health of their family first.

THE PRESIDENT:  Again, I want to just emphasize, everybody down here -- every local official, every state official -- is working as hard as they can.  Our federal teams are working as hard as they can.  There are still going to be glitches in the response.  There are still going to be arguments and disagreements between local and state, state and federal, between everybody and BP, between states and states, in terms of how we’re allocating some of these resources.  But I think that Thad Allen has committed to me and the people of the Gulf that we’re going to cut through any bureaucratic red tape, any problems that we’ve got, and we will fix problems that have been identified.

And that was the commitment I made last week.  Some of the problems have been fixed; some new ones have resurfaced.  We’ll fix those, too.  And we’ll keep on coming back until we have dealt with an unprecedented crisis. 

But I’m very thankful to everybody for the constructive meeting and the constructive approach that I think everybody is taking in terms of solving this problem. 

All right.  Thank you, everybody.

Q    Mr. President, what did you say to the parish presidents about the difficulty -- the economic difficulties from the drilling moratorium?

THE PRESIDENT:  We had a conversation about that, as well, and what I told them is very simple.  When I made the decision to issue the moratorium, we knew that that would have an economic impact.  But what I also knew is that there was no way that we can go about business as usual when we discovered that companies like BP, who had provided assurances that they had fail-safe backup, redundant systems, in fact, not only didn't have fail-safe systems, but had no idea what to do when those fail-safe systems broke down.

Now, I announced this week that Bob Graham and Bill Reilly, two respected individuals who have experience both on the environmental side as well as in the energy sector, are going to be examining over the next six months what went wrong, but more important -- forward looking, how do we, in fact, increase domestic oil production without seeing the kinds of disasters that we are all witnessing on television day in, day out.

I think Governor Jindal, I know other parish presidents, expressed concern about the immediate economic impact.  And what I said to them is the same thing I said to Graham and Reilly, which is, if they can front-load some of the analysis of what went wrong and how you would solve what has happened and what can happen, and you can do that more quickly than six months, then let me know.  Don't hold the results of your review for six months, and then tell me.  Tell me when you find out.

But what I told the folks in this room was I’m not going to cut corners on it, and I’m not going to press them to move faster than it would take to do an accurate, independent job based on sound science, because I do not want to see this thing repeated again.  And the American people don't, and I promise you the people of the Gulf don't want to see it either.

And as difficult as it may be, it’s important for us to do this right, because if we don't do it right, then what you could end up seeing is an even worse impact on the oil industry down here, which is so important to so many jobs. 

And I think everybody here emphasized -- and I want to be clear -- I didn't hear anybody here say that they want unsafe operations on these rigs and they certainly don't want to see a repeat of this disaster.  They did ask, can we do it faster.  And what I said to them was the same thing that I said to Graham and Reilly, which is, you do it as fast as it takes to do it right.

All right?  Thank you, everybody.

Q    Do you want BP to pay that dividend?  Are you calling on them not to?

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, guys. 

I want to make sure that they are paying the folks in Louisiana for the havoc that they wreaked, and the folks in Alabama and the folks in Florida.  I don't want them nickel-and- diming people down here.  I want them to abide by their obligations to their shareholders; I want them to abide by the obligations to people down here, as well. 

All right.  Thank you, folks.

END
2:43 P.M. CDT

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June 9, 2010, WASHINGTON – The latest announcement on how much oil is being captured from the gushing BP oil well on Wednesday raised additional doubts about the validity of government estimates on how much crude actually has been spewing into Gulf waters.

Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who is in charge of the spill response effort, said Wednesday that BP was now capturing 630,000 gallons a day and that the amount could nearly double by next week to roughly 1.17 million gallons. But the government's estimate of the total oil leaking has been 500,000 to 1 million gallons of leaking every day.

President Obama and the US Government, including the DOD for Emergency Homeland Security doing the best whatever it takes to recover as soon as possible. BP, president, Tony Hayward also responded that BP will take the full responsibilities whatever it take to recover and made the sincere apologies in .  Meanwhile, there are so many supports are there  including the DOD, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has authorized two Air Force Reserve C-130H aircraft to support the response to a massive oil slick that threatens wetlands and beaches along the Gulf Coast, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell confirmed in April 26, 2010.

DOD news also stated that the Navy has dispatched 66,000 feet of inflatable oil boom with anchoring equipment, along with seven skimming systems and their supporting gear to the region, Navy Lt. Myers Vasquez reported.

The C130 crews, assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing’s 757th Airlift Squadron at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Ohio, had prepositioned in Mississippi in anticipation of the tasking.

“We are posturing to be ready to provide support to the ongoing emergency efforts if called upon,” said Air Force Col. Craig Peters, the 910th Operations Group commander.  See the photo in below:

It is becoming the serious problem, Fisheries, wildlife, economic, marketing, eco environment which led the critical urgency matter for the recovery responses to the climate changes.  As you can see the photos and media, all of these are seriously becoming closer to wellness problem  which would caused by invisible matters chemical oil reaction for our daily food and so on….which reminds of us that President Barack Obama’s statement which stated On May 2nd, 2010 in Venice, La  that “We're dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster. The oil that is still leaking from the well could seriously damage the economy and the environment of our Gulf states and it could extend for a long time. It could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of Americans  who call this place home.”

Back in April 26, 2010  Southeast Fishery Bulletin,  stated that NOAA Fisheries Service published a final rule to implement Amendment 31 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources in the Gulf of Mexico in the Federal Register on April 26, 2010. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 31 and associated Final Environmental Impact Statement for review, approval, and implementation by NOAA Fisheries Service. These provisions are effective May 26, 2010.  See the link detail information. 

NOAA was established within the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. With its ties to the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, NOAA celebrated 200 years of service in 2007.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment.

See the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Adminstration (NOAA) in flight.

You will be able to see the Federal Fisheries Closure  boundary as of June 7^th, 2010 for  the  Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill area. Click to see the bigger view via NOAA site  

Nearly 80 percent of U.S. overseas trade by volume travels into and out of the country through our nation’s nearly 400 ports.  Waterborne cargo alone contributes more than $742 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and is responsible for more than 13 million jobs.  Ensuring that the maritime commerce system is able to operate requires detailed, accurate and up-to-date maps and charts of U.S. waterways.

Tony Hayward PTC 13 May 2010

Cap Collects More Oil, BP CEO Called to Cap Hill

Chopper Crews Help Develop Cleanup Strategies

June 06, 2010 — In BP's latest response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, the LMRP cap was successfully installed

Brown pelicans soaked in oil waiting to be cleaned at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Buras, La.: June 7, 2010
 

Pelican bird is soaked by BP Oil spill and waiting to be cleaned at the International Bird Rescue Research Center

Pelican bird is soaked by BP Oil spill and waiting to be cleaned at the International Bird Rescue Research Center

June 06, 2010 — In BP's latest response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, the LMRP cap was successfully installed

Here is how they take care of the oiled Pelicans:  Oiled Bird Gets Bath

Pelican without the oil :
Brown Pelican in Venice Beach, Florida

Resource:

White House

Yahoo

DOD

DOD news

Youtube

NOAA

Remarks

Deep Water Horizon Response

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