GULF OIL FIASCOGULF OIL FIASCO

Is it a Local Issue?Is it a Local Issue?

March, 2013March, 2013

Volume Estimates (barrels/day):

April 22 - 1,000April 28 - 5,000May 27 - 12,000-19,000Sept. 23 - 56,000-68,000

US Energy Information Administration

Remediation : booms, burning, Remediation : booms, burning, dispersantsdispersants

Plumes & deepwater hydrocarbons Plumes & deepwater hydrocarbons remain (25 % of total?)remain (25 % of total?)

Tarballs persist – February, 2013Tarballs persist – February, 2013

Will bacterial activity add to the Gulf’s Will bacterial activity add to the Gulf’s

“ “dead zone”?dead zone”?

Agricultural sources of nitrates & Agricultural sources of nitrates & phosphatesphosphates

Who’s to blame, BP Who’s to blame, BP or our endless or our endless thirst for petroleum thirst for petroleum products ?products ?

+ huge vehicles in + huge vehicles in which to place which to place themthem

Traffic’s not what it Traffic’s not what it used to beused to be

So we drill – here, So we drill – here, now, & deepernow, & deeper

Total spill estimate: 4.4M barrels

Estimated U.S. usage per day: 19.6M barrels

Global implications Global implications include possible include possible contribution to contribution to climate changeclimate change

& ocean acidification& ocean acidification

Greenland’s Greenland’s northern ice shelf – northern ice shelf – 20102010

Loss of Arctic Sea ICE Loss of Arctic Sea ICE

A local connection: A local connection: commuting @ KSUcommuting @ KSU

Commute Commute alternatives are alternatives are meagermeager

Going Forward – Going Forward – KSU’s Climate KSU’s Climate Action Plan 2010Action Plan 2010