3. Environmental Considerations
The most vehement objection to opening the areas currently off-limits in the OCS is often made on environmental grounds. But, according to the MMS, the offshore drilling industry is one of the safest in the United States.
“A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences reports that in the last 15 years there were zero platform spills greater than 1,000 barrels. Compared to worldwide tanker spill rates, outer continental shelf operations are more than five times safer. Imports present an environmental risk of spills about 13 times greater than domestic production. In fact, annual natural seeps account for 150–175 times more oil in the ocean than OCS oil and gas operations.”
Given the fact that tanker spill rates are higher than platform spill rates, by encouraging more imports through restricting domestic production, we are in fact utilizing a more environmentally damaging option.
The record of the oil industry in the OCS is quite astounding, especially when one considers its success despite the challenges presented by recent hurricanes such as Ivan (2004), Katrina (2005) and Rita (2005). Despite what some proponents of lifting the moratoria indicate, some oil was in fact spilled during the hurricanes of the last few years. However, according to the MMS no significant spills were reported, which is a direct result of the protocols in place offshore. Nevertheless, oversight by the MMS, as required by the OCS Lands Act, must be diligently maintained to ensure that the offshore record remains outstanding.
It should also be pointed out that much of the OCS acreage currently off-limits to leasing does not experience hurricanes of the frequency or intensity seen in the Gulf of Mexico. Every hurricane season, a great deal is made of the fact that so much of our nation’s energy infrastructure is located in areas prone to hurricane damage. Yet we continue policies that limit our ability to diversify away from those regions when it comes to crude oil, refined products and natural gas.
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If this was the safest job in the US then why are eleven people missing because of an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Also explain why there was a spill of oil in the waters surrounding the rigs. You must just be a greedy and have stock in oil so you just want to get your money no matter who or what you walk over to get it you ignorant POS.
In all the sources that I have checked, i can not find a person that says offshore drilling is a terrible thing, rather that shipping oil , or that increased oil consumption is. I am writing an assignment on the views of offshore drilling and i would like your expert help.
1. If safeguards were put into place to help control oil shipping would offshore drilling be less opposed?
2. Does the act of offshore drilling effect nearby marine life?
3. What kind of safeguards would need to be put into place to control how oil is shipped to make it safer for marine life?
In all the sources that I have checked, i can not find a person that says offshore drilling is a terrible thing, rather that shipping oil is, or that increased gas consumption is. I am writing an assignment on the views of offshore drilling and i would like your expert help.
1. If safeguards were put into place to help control oil shipping would offshore drilling be less opposed?
2. Does the act of offshore drilling effect nearby marine life?
3. What kind of safeguards would need to be put into place to control how oil is shipped to make it safer for marine life?
It's all fine and dandy to focus on alternative resources, but meanwhile why not drill off-shore on our way to becoming less dependent on foreign oil?
We are going to have to be dependent on somebody's oil in the time it will take us to convert to a alternative method, so why depend on foreign oil from the middle east? Why not depend on our own oil, and give our country more of a say in the high prices of oil-based products?
If we would just drill off-shore, we could spend our time and effort into discovering new and more renewable resources that we could be dependent upon. More U.S jobs for U.S. citizens could be provided if we would just drill off-shore. Our country's unemployment rate could drop dramatically if we would just drill off-shore. We could spend less time worrying about whether we could go places in our much loved gas guzzling cars if we would just drill off-shore.
So why not be dependent on OUR oil instead of FOREIGN oil for the decade or so it will take for us to switch to a more renewable resource?
If we cut our dependency on oil in other areas, there would be no need to either drill for it or kill for it. Why not wave generators?
Why not focus efforts on running cars on... rice? or (kill me now)... crazy thought... hemp?
Why is there so much focus placed on oil? OIL! A great book, but a dirty energy source. I like my fossil fuels, honestly I do. Just as much, if not more, as I like my squishy soft toilet paper and my flushing toilet.
But oil is not the answer. It's a horrible choking cloud of life-destroying sickness. It's a poison! (That I fully intend on loving, but that needs to be controlled and curbed.)