Environmental efforts to protect marine life

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS TO PROTECT MARINE LIFE FROM THE OIL SPILL IN GULF OF MEXICO

Choice of country: America
Text:http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Eco/bp-oil-spill-national-significance-obama-administration/story?id=10509844 (29 April 2010)
Oil from a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico began to wash ashore along the Gulf Coast this evening after BP asked the U.S. government for help cleaning up the mess and faint fingers of oily sheen could be seen lapping at the Louisiana shoreline.
Environmental impact: As the oil approached the coastline, biologists said it threatened as many as 400 species, including sea turtles and dolphins
Efforts to control the oil spills
• BP asked the U.S. Department of Defense for advanced imaging technology and other equipment to locate oil spill areas so as to contain the spill
• 1,100 people are working on the cleanup effort, which so far has collected 685,000 gallons of oil and water from the polluted Gulf.
• The White House said 174,060 feet of flotation booms had been deployed to corral the floating oil. It said an additional 243,260 feet is available and 265,460 feet has been ordered. 76 tugs, barges and skimmers were on scene to help in containment and cleanup, along with six fixed-wing aircraft, 11 helicopters, 10 remotely operated vehicles, and two mobile offshore drilling units.
• BP is using chemical dispersants to break up the oil -- pumping them all the way down to the leaking wellhead to keep the crude oil from reaching the surface.
• Local fishermen are allowed to assist in the expected cleanup. Prison inmates are trained to help clean up wildlife harmed by oil slicks moving toward shore.

Amos Yap
10s25

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