6
/ NEWS / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
ENVIRONMENT
Past and present: The BP Gulf oil spill
BY RICHELLE BUSER | rbuser@kansan.com
What is BP doing about it?
To read about the oil spill's effect on the seafood market, see Corey Thibodeaux's story on PAGE 3.
BP's website said on Mon., June 28 that the company was using two systems to extract oil from affected areas. To date, BP has managed to extract 435,600 barrels of oil, but there are still millions of gallons in the Gulf. Plans for a more effective containment system, which would extract 20,000 to 25,000 barrels of oil per day, are in development. Two relief wells, which BP believes would kill the flow of oil and gas from the reservoir by pumping in heavy fluids, will take at least three months to complete. BP has paid more than $2.65 billion in grants to Gulf states, federal costs, spill response efforts and relief well drilling.
How is the oil spill affecting the environment?
Animals that live in the wetlands are greatly affected by the oil covering their homes. The spill threatens the viability of oysters, shrimp, shellfish and other seafood, which then affects fishermen and restaurateurs who work in the industry. Currently, 36 percent of the gulf is closed to fishing. Pelicans were just removed from the endangered species list last year, but are now back in trouble. A bird's feathers lose their ability to insulate when covered with oil, which eventually leads to hypothermia. To save itself, a bird may attempt to clean its feathers, which would cause it to die from ingesting the toxic oil. Five of the seven species of sea turtles live in the Gulf Coast, all of which are endangered or threatened. Other animals that don't necessarily reside in the Gulf, such as American crocodiles, will still suffer because they eat fish, turtles, wading birds, and other species contaminated by the oil.
National Wild Life Federation
Celebrate Summer in Style
Lawrence's HOTTEST night club open Fridays & Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. with state of the art lighting & sound.
1200 Oread Ave. 785-843-1200 (located inside The Oread) www.theoread.com
Drink Specials
FRIDAY: $2 Coors Light
SATURDAY: $2 Bud Family Bottles
$3 Bacardi Cocktails