Environmental Law Institute (ELI) web site provides excellent information regarding RESTORE Act and progress of DWH spill-related settlements, litigation and penalties– http://eli-ocean.org/gulf/
Posts by Andy Shepard
Spill impact economics
University of Houston-Victoria faculty, Yong-Gyo Lee and Xavier Garza-Gomez, using market-based measures, estimated loss in oil/gas industry capitalization due to 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to be up to $562 billion — http://www.na-businesspress.com/JAF/LeeY_Web12_1_.pdf.
Ocean strategy
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative’s most recent (now done every 5 years) U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card, calls for stopping decline of ocean science and education funding and praises regional collaborations for carrying the load– http://www.jointoceancommission.org/resource-center/2-Report-Cards/2012-06-06_2012_JOCI_report_card.pdf
Recovery publication
Current Biology editor considers where Gulf ecosystem and policies are 2 years after DWH oil spill– http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982212005222
Dispersant publication
2012 NOAA workshop report is good resource regarding dispersant use during DWH oil spill– http://www.crrc.unh.edu/workshops/dispersant_future_11/Dispersant_Initiative_FINALREPORT.pdf.
Shell Marine Habitat Program
Shell Marine Habitat Program (SMHP) partnership between Shell Oil Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) supports conservation and restoration activities that result in measurable benefits to key species and their habitats within coastal ecosystems– http://www.nfwf.org/shell/Pages/home.aspx#.U6w28kBBnoE
DWH spill publication
In response to the DWH oil spill, scientists and managers conclude that “modification of laws and policies designed to protect and restore ocean resources is needed in order to accommodate oil drilling in the deep sea and other frontiers” in A Tale of Two Spills: Novel Science and Policy Implications of an Emerging New Oil Read More
Oil Spill Commission report
Oil Spill Commission action committee assesses progress towards recommendations made in National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Off-Shore Drilling’s 2011 report (http://www.oilspillcommission.gov/)– http://oscaction.org/wp-content/uploads/OSCA-Assessment-report.pdf.
Spill rate
New publication pegs total DWH oil spill at 4.9-5.5 million bbls– Griffiths, S. 2012. Oil Release from Macondo Well MC252 Following the Deepwater Horizon Accident. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI: 10.1021/es204569t (on-line at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es204569t)
Ecosystem Monitoring
Gulf Ecosystem Observing and Monitoring Program: A lasting legacy from the DeepWater Horizon oil spill and resulting penalties should be a new northern Gulf-wide science-based, monitoring program that incorporates mapping, observing, and research. WHY? Restore Act (PL112-141, subtitle F) mandates that civil penalties be used to support long-term, sustained, Gulf-wide ecosystem monitoring program supported by Read More