Although the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico was stopped by a mechanical device in mid-July, the Us government only now considers the well "dead" because the relief well has finally been completed. This relief well, however, is not intended to pump oil. It instead pumped more cement into the bottom of the first well that blew out. Pressure tests confirm that the well is now officially dead.
While the long-term ecological and economic costs remain to be seen, the 11 workers killed in the initial explosion and the 4.9 million barrels, or 205 million gallons of oil have already affected many lives and the economies of many states, and will doubtless continue to do so. Admiral Thad Allen says of cleanup efforts, “Although the well is now dead, we remain committed to continue aggressive efforts to clean up any additional oil we may see going forward."
The people that were hit hardest by the oil spill weren't necessarily those who worked for BP (besides for the execs)since they were still needed for clean up efforts which in fact created more jobs. The sector that was hit was those who work in industries such as fishing.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, within the coming months the water will be cleaned up enough to a point where the fishing industry will be re-invigorated and will re-establish itself sooner than later.