Top Officials to Return to the Gulf Coast / Trips by Top Leaders to Inspect All-Hands-on-Deck Response Total 28

Release date: 05/29/2010

Contact Information: Joint Information Center, (985) 902-5231, (985) 902-5240

Brendan Gilfillan, gilfillan.brendan@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – At the direction of the President, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco will return to the Gulf region next week as they continue their work, aggressively responding to the BP Oil Spill.

These officials’ actions on scene will be coordinated by National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, who is leading the administration-wide response and directing all interagency activities.

Administrator Jackson will make her fourth trip to the Gulf Coast to inspect coastline protection and cleanup activities and meet with community members to discuss ongoing efforts to mitigate the oil’s
impacts on public health and the environment. A native of the Gulf region, Administrator Jackson will spend a total of six days on the ground, visiting Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to review plans for
cleanup of oil-impacted wetlands and marshes, analyze scientific monitoring of dispersant use, and ensure that recovery and cleanup plans are proceeding quickly.

Secretary Salazar will make his eighth trip to the area to meet with top BP officials, federal personnel and government scientists in Houston to get a firsthand account of the on-scene direction and oversight of BP’s efforts to cap the leaking well. He will also participate in discussions with state, local and business leaders to discuss the ways the administration is supporting their communities during this catastrophe.

Administrator Lubchenco will make her third visit to the affected area to meet with top government and independent scientists and engineers who are working with BP and coordinating efforts across the federal
government to ensure the best science is used to assess and mitigate the BP Oil Spill’s impacts to the environment.

President Obama visited the affected area for the second time yesterday to view the administration’s all-hands-on-deck response to this unprecedented disaster. He spoke to the frustration felt by those in the
local community and across America and discussed extensively what he saw touring the tragedy this morning. The President also commended those in the area who have “rolled up their sleeves” to help with the clean up, saying that “we’re in this together.”

In total, senior administration officials have visited the region 28 times since BP’s oil rig exploded on April 20—including trips by the President, National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, Interior Secretary Salazar, EPA Administrator Jackson, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, NOAA Administrator Lubchenco and SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

EPA, U.S. Coast Guard Provide Dispersant Updates

Release date: 05/24/2010

Contact Information: Brendan Gilfillan, gilfillan.brendan@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and United States Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry held a press conference call today to discuss BP’s use of dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico. On the call, the Administrator and Rear Admiral Landry provided the following update:

• EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard are taking steps that could reduce the volume of dispersants applied in the Gulf. While we do know dispersants are less toxic and shorter-lived than the oil, much remains unknown about their impact on the environment when used in these unprecedented volumes. For that reason, EPA and the USCG are directing that BP use dispersants in the most effective and efficient way possible, thereby minimizing the total amount used. What the monitoring data indicates so far is that the underwater use of dispersants is effective at breaking up the oil and, to this point, does not seem to have had any significant impacts on aquatic life. Using the dispersant underwater at the source of the leak also requires far less dispersant to be applied. For this reason, EPA and USCG have informed BP that they should focus the use of dispersants underwater and only use the dispersants on the surface under specific conditions- for example, if they are unable to apply them underwater for a period of time. This could cut overall dispersant use by half and possibly more.

• EPA and U.S. Coast Guard consider BP’s scientific analysis of alternative dispersants insufficient. Late last week EPA directed BP to analyze other available, pre-approved dispersants to determine if an alternative dispersant proved less toxic and more effective. BP responded to the directive within 24 hours. EPA and the Coast Guard believe their response was insufficient and lacked sufficient analysis. We are concerned that BP seemed, in their response, more interested in defending their initial decisions than analyzing possible better options.

• EPA and other government scientists will independently verify the data presented by BP. As a result of being dissatisfied with the response, and to ensure that we know as much as we can know about the current environmental impact, EPA will be performing independent scientific verification of the data BP presented. We will conduct our own tests to determine the least toxic, most effective dispersant available in the volumes necessary for a crisis of this magnitude. Our toxicity tests will address the claims and conclusions put forth by BP in their response to us late last week. And EPA scientists have been tasked with conducting parallel, independent tests to determine if BP’s argument that Corexit remains the best alternative is accurate and supported by the science.

  Rear Admiral Landry is sending a letter to BP this evening formally reiterating the steps outlined by the Administrator and the Admiral in today’s conference call. That letter will be made public as soon as it is sent.

TODAY: Administrator Jackson, Rear Admiral Landry to Hold Press Conference Call to Discuss Dispersants

Release date: 05/24/2010

Contact Information: Alisha Johnson, johnson.alisha@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry will hold a press conference call at 3:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. EST to discuss BP’s use of dispersants to address the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Members of the press interested in participating should dial in 15 minutes prior to the call. Reporters should dial 888-539-8821 and give the conference ID number, which is 77895444. The call name is “EPA/Coast Guard Call on Dispersants.” Those dialing in internationally should dial 706- 758–2093 and use the same conference code and conference name.

On Thursday, EPA directed BP to analyze available pre-approved dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness and report back within 24 hours. The directive called for a 72-hour window to analyze the options – that window closed on Sunday night. After receiving BP’s response to the directive Thursday, EPA and NOAA scientists immediately called a meeting with BP scientists to discuss BP’s response. EPA and NOAA have been reviewing the science and Administrator Jackson and Rear Admiral Landry will announce the next steps on this call.

WHO: EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, USCG Rear Admiral Mary Landry

WHAT: Press conference call to discuss dispersants

WHEN: Monday, May 24 at 3:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. EST

DIAL-IN: Members of the press interested in participating should dial in 15 minutes prior to the call. Reporters should dial 888-539-8821 and give the conference ID number, which is 77895444. The call name is “EPA/Coast Guard Call on Dispersants.” Those dialing in internationally should dial 706-758– 2093 and use the same conference code and conference name.

TODAY: EPA Administrator Returns to Gulf Region to Oversee Ongoing Response to the BP Spill / CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley joins Administrator

Release date: 05/24/2010

Contact Information: Alisha Johnson, johnson.alisha@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, joined by Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, is back in the Gulf Coast today to monitor EPA’s on-the-ground response to the BP Oil Spill and speak with residents about efforts to mitigate the spill’s impact on the region.

This marks Administrator Jackson’s third visit to the gulf region since the Oil Spill began. During the trip, the Administrator and Chair Sutley will visit the command center in Robert, La and will also travel to Venice and New Orleans. The visit will include a tour on a Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA), a self-contained mobile laboratory being used by EPA to sample and analyze outdoor air quality in the gulf. Administrator Jackson and Chair Sutley will also tour oil impacted wetlands by boat in Venice.

At 4:15 p.m. CST, the Administrator will hold a press conference in Venice, La.

Administrator Jackson arrived in the Gulf Coast last night, where she attended a briefing at the Unified Command Center and met with BP officials along with U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Landry.

To request an interview with Administrator Jackson, please email johnson.alisha@epa.gov.

For more information on EPA’s efforts in the gulf and for the latest air, water, sediment and underwater dispersant monitoring data: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill.

MONDAY, May 24:

8:30 a.m. CST TAGA Tour

New Orleans, La.
CLOSED PRESS

11:20 a.m. CST Ecosystem Working Group Meeting

EPA Incident Command Post
MCP 42256 Hwy 23, Venice, La.
CLOSED PRESS

12:20 p.m. CST Boat Tour of Oil-Impacted Wetlands

Cypress Cove Marina

235 Cypress Cove Rd., Venice, LA

PRESS COVERAGE TBD

3:30 p.m. CST Press Conference Call on Dispersants
Additional information on this call to be released

4:15 p.m. CST Press Conference

Venice Marina
237 Sports Marina Rd.
Venice, La.

EPA Releases BP’s Response to Directive on Dispersants

Release date: 05/22/2010

Contact Information: Brendan Gilfillan, gilfillan.brendan@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released BP’s response to EPA’s directive on dispersants. EPA’s directive to BP required them to evaluate available, pre-approved dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness and report back to EPA within 24 hours. After receiving their response late Thursday night, EPA immediately called a meeting with BP to discuss the issue on Friday, May 21. EPA will continue to work over the next 48 hours to ensure BP is complying with the directive.

BP’s response to EPA’s directive, as well as the directive itself, can be found here:
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants.html

BP and several of the dispersant manufacturers have claimed some sections of BP’s response contain confidential business information (CBI). By law, CBI cannot be immediately made public except with the company’s permission. EPA challenged these companies to make more information public and, as a result, several portions of the letter can now be made public. EPA is currently evaluating all legal options to ensure that the remaining redacted information is released to the public. EPA continues to strongly urge these companies to voluntarily make this information public so Americans can get a full picture of the potential environmental impact of these alternative dispersants.

SUNDAY: EPA Administrator to Return to Gulf Region to Oversee Ongoing Response to the BP Oil Spill

Release date: 05/22/2010

Contact Information: Alisha Johnson, johnson.alisha@epa.gov

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will return to the Gulf Coast on Sunday to monitor EPA’s on-the-ground response to the BP Oil Spill and speak with residents about efforts to mitigate the spill’s impact on the region.

This marks Administrator Jackson’s third visit to the gulf region since the Oil Spill began. During her trip, the administrator will visit the command center in Robert, La. and will also travel to Venice and New Orleans. She will remain in the gulf region until Tuesday. Additional details on the trip will be released as they become available.

More information on EPA’s efforts in the gulf and for the latest air, water, sediment and underwater dispersant monitoring data: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill

MEDIA: To request an interview with Administrator Jackson, please email:
johnson.alisha@epa.gov

Letter From Secretary Napolitano and EPA Administrator Jackson to BP CEO Tony Hayward

Release date: 05/20/2010

Contact Information: press@epa.gov, 202-564-6794

Letter From Secretary Napolitano and EPA Administrator Jackson to BP CEO Tony Hayward

WASHINGTON – Below is a link to a letter from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to BP CEO Tony Hayward.

Link to the letter: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/bp-hayward-dhs-epa.pdf

EPA Posts Underwater Dispersant Monitoring Data/Under stringent plan, BP must conduct constant monitoring of dispersant use at leak source and provide data to the government

Release date: 05/20/2010

Contact Information: press@epa.gov
202-564-6794

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last night began posting results from the ongoing monitoring of BP’s use of underwater dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill. EPA received this data from BP last night and posted it within hours. Dispersants are a chemical used to break up oil into small droplets so that they are more easily degraded. Dispersants are generally less toxic than the oils they break down.

This is part of EPA’s continued commitment to make air, water, sediment and dispersant monitoring data available to the public as quickly as possible and to ensure the citizens of the gulf region have access to all relevant public and environmental health information relating to the BP spill.

On May 15, EPA and the U.S. Coast Guard authorized BP to use dispersants underwater at the source of the Deepwater Horizon leak. As the dispersant is used underwater, BP is required to do constant, scientifically rigorous monitoring so EPA scientists may determine the dispersant’s effectiveness and impact on the environment, water and air quality, and human health. EPA is posting the information BP collects during the monitoring to ensure the public has access to this data.

While EPA has not yet identified any significant effects on aquatic life, EPA today also directed BP to begin using, within 72 hours, a less toxic and more effective dispersant. EPA took this step because BP is using this dispersant in unprecedented volumes and, last week, began using it underwater at the source of the leak – a procedure that has never been tried before. Given the unprecedented use, EPA wants to ensure BP is using the least toxic approved product.

Regardless of which dispersant BP uses, EPA has been and will continue to closely scrutinize the monitoring results. EPA still reserves the right to stop BP’s use of dispersants underwater entirely if the science indicates that this dispersant method has negative impacts on the environment that outweighs its benefits.

EPA continues to add information to its BP Oil Spill response Web site to keep the public informed about the impact of the spill and the EPA’s response. The public can also see results of EPA’s ongoing air, water and soil quality monitoring on the Web site.

The dispersant page: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/dispersants.html

Continue to track EPA’s response to the spill: http://www.epa.gov/bpspill.

Additional information on the broader response from the U.S. Coast Guard and other responding agencies: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com