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White House Squelched Release of BP Oil Spill Estimates
WASHINGTON - Government scientists wanted to tell Americans early on how bad the BP oil spill could get, but the White House denied their request to make the worst-case models public, a report by the staff of the national panel investigating the spill said Wednesday.
Plaquemines Parish Coastal Zone Director P.J. Hahn rescues a heavily oiled bird from the waters of Barataria Bay, La., which are laden with oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) White House officials denied that they tried to suppress the information.
The allegation was made by unnamed government officials cited in a staff working paper released Wednesday by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Although not a final report, it could raise questions over whether the Obama administration tried to minimize the extent of the BP oil spill, the worst man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history.
The staff paper said that underestimating the flow rates "undermined public confidence in the federal government's response" by creating the impression that the government was either incompetent or untrustworthy. The paper said that the loss of trust "fuels public fears."
In a separate report, the commission's staff concluded that despite the Coast Guard's insistence that it was always responding to the worst case scenario, the failure to have an accurate flow rate slowed the response and lulled Obama administration officials into a false belief that the spill would be controlled easily.
The first report said that the "decision to withhold worst-case discharge figures" may have been made at a high level. It said that in late April or early May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration "wanted to make public some of its long-term, worst-case discharge models for the Deepwater Horizon spill, and requested approval to do so from the White House's Office of Management and Budget. Staff was told that the Office of Management and Budget denied NOAA's request."
A joint statement from OMB and NOAA released Wednesday said that OMB had been tapped "to coordinate and review all interagency materials developed in response to the BP oil spill."
OMB spokesman Kenneth Baer said that the discussions between OMB and NOAA weren't focused on the flow rate, but dealt more broadly with NOAA's modeling for the spill's long-term shoreline impact. Baer said that OMB made no attempt to shield the public from the worst-case flow rate scenario.
"The issue was the modeling, the science and the assumptions they were using to come up with their analysis. Not public relations or presentation. We offered them suggestions of ways to improve it and they happily accepted it," Baer said.
However, the oil flow rate was part of those models.
Baer also noted that officials in some instances talked about a possible 100,000-barrel worst-case daily amount.
The commission said in a statement that it didn't consider the government's response a contradiction of its report.
The government's final estimate, on Aug. 2, was that 62,000 barrels a day leaked in the early period, but that flow declined to 53,000 barrels a day by the time the well was capped on July 15.
The report noted that retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's top official on the disaster, and other officials said in news conferences that the government prepared for a worst-case scenario from the beginning, and didn't base decisions about what equipment would be needed on the early estimates of 1,000 to 5,000 barrels a day.
However, it said, the government withheld the figures of what "worst-case" meant.
The second report noted that only after NOAA determined that the flow rate was five times what BP had first estimated, that the Obama administration declared the spill an incident of national significance.
"For the first 10 days of the spill, it appears that a sense of over-optimism affected responders," the second report said. "At least one high-level Coast Guard official thought that the oil would not come ashore."
In other contexts, Allen and other officials did elaborate on what that figure roughly meant. Allen told reporters on May 2 that the oil flow could reach 100,000 barrels a day if the well completely failed _ something that never happened.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on the same day told CNN that a worst-case scenario would be 100,000 barrels a day.
The government all along had BP's estimates of what a worse-case scenario would be, but never disclosed them to the public, the report said. BP's drilling permit put it at 162,000 barrels a day.
On April 23, the Coast Guard and NOAA got an updated estimate of 64,000 to 110,000 barrels a day, but it's unclear whether that information was from BP or how it was derived, the report said. By early May, BP lowered its worst-case estimate to 60,000 barrels a day, the report said.
That figure was close to what government scientists later determined was the best estimate for the actual flow. Therefore, the government oil spill response team may have been basing its decision-making on a good estimate, the report noted.
However, it added, "despite the fact that the Unified Command had this information, relied on it for operations, and publicly stated that it was operating under a worst-case scenario, the government never disclosed what its operational scenario was."
Mark Seibel contributed to this article.
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39 Comments so far
Show AllThe government lied and wildlife died !
And are still dying as are the livelihoods of the Gulf Coast residents
The Government LIED? All they did is stand by one of their very best constituents, BP USA (or whatever BP's US corporate name is). Remember the Supreme Court has given person-hood to Corporations, foreign ones only need to create offspring on US soil.
We are so in need of a Democratic Government now, unfortunately the disaster just offshore Louisiana beyond the Mississippi Delta will make Government the enemy, just as its internal spying on us should. We need a popular revolt to peacefully retake our Government. Not voting will not work, if you cannot stand the candidates, then write in. Peaceful protests and joining up with local Environmental, Peace and Justice groups will help. If WE do not do something then the Tea-Baggers will just get elected the worst of the worse. More oil spills, nuclear meltdowns and of-course Global Meltdown, will be here...
Peace,
David
You're absolutely, Frank! The system is so totally broken that it is completely beyond redemption!!!!!
There are no realisitc antidotes available to the general public - mostly because such a large portion of the public are still being taken in by the lies of our government - both democrats and republicans!!!
Moreover, as long as these two parties are in conflict for supremacy, there is no chance that "TRUTH WILL RULE!"
". . . because such a large portion of the public are still being taken in by the lies of our government . . . ."
I'd say that an even larger portion of the electorate is being "taken in" by corporate propaganda disseminated through the corporate media.
q
Sadly, I have to agree.
However, my hope is that those who sit out the election because of their conscience do something tangible and real with the extra energy to have some kind of an impact. I part ways with those who say nothing can be done. Much can be done - it's just that most of the results aren't immediately apparent.
All I'm saying, Frank, is that we have a responsibility to act. Never mind the "dumbed American citizen." Unless you consider yourself one of them, you have a responsibility to act.
I think we should all write in a vote of "No confidence." I think that would be a first in US history.
I am way past being surprised. So its so bad, they wont tell us. And this is what we get when the D's control the presidency and both houses!
During the pres campaign, O-man pledged to transform the US into a nation that would promote human rights.
The supremes have anointed corporations with the status of personhood.
So, the O had no choice here. He had to favor he corporation.
FINALLY, O lives up to a campaign pledge!
What else isn't this administration telling us?
Transparency and truth always outweigh the fear telling too much.
Wasn't transparency and open government one of the promises President Obama campaigned on? Maybe that was to be put into place in his second term.
"Maybe that was to be put into place in his second term."
Second term ... LOL. Good one.
We're still in Bush World, don't forget!
Why the just Bush world? It's the Obama world now, in case you haven't noticed.
We're in the Corporate World.
Republicans and Democrats are essentially the same.
We have to get off this notion that repukes are bad guys and the dems are good guys, if stupid and incompetent (which just so happens to benefit corporations).
Bush world? ... Obama world? ... let me know when you see a difference between the two.
So much for Barry's promise of transparency in the Amerikkkan government. Vote this poseur and both of the of the Corporate parties out in November.
People are being way too hard on Obama. His is the administration of "Hope". They weren't trying to lie to people that the spill was not that bad, they were just "hoping" it wasn't going to be that bad...
His is the administration of hope soured. Obama and the Democrats had their chance, and they proved once and for all that they are tools of the ruling class--if anyone had any doubts. Evidently some people like you are still in denial.
I think NC-Tom was being facetious.
I suspected as much, but just to make sure----
This government has become intolerable. We will not be treated as bystanders. Governments that serve the interests of corporations at the expense of it citizenry must be held accountable now, peacefully if possible.
Dream on.
Don'tya just love our new trasnparent government?
Until we the people get off our a---s, roll off the couch and fill the streets in outrage, throwing sand in the gears of status quo, absolutely NOTHING will change !
Numbers:
I read, the Rs are hoping to win the magic '51st' Senate seat, so they can gain control?
How come the Ds need '101', or more? (like, even that number would make any difference)
Let's see....
overstate terror threat, falsifying linkages, propagandizing innuendos
understate Oil spill damage threat, falsifying linkages, propagandizing innuendos
Could this be a pattern.......?
Naaaahhh
"And what to my wondering eyes should appear......."
Curmudgeon99...Very well said!
This may well analyze the problem and perhaps suggest an alternative of a cure. At least it puts the problem in perspective.
http://steveosborn.blogspot.com/2010/05/citizen-or-subject.html
If the Oligarchy, (Kleptocracy?) that one percent that owns ninety-nine percent of everything, is strong enough (and I fear they may be) then the only meaningful change that will happen is some future day when that one percent starts fighting amongst themselves to see which of them gets the whole pot.
They may self-destruct, or they may use the "Sampson Option" and take us all with them.
So?
We know that our "elected" officials represent the Corporate Mafia that funds them and pulls the strings behind the flimsy curtain.
What's the big deal? Obama is just the Chief Public Relations Officer for the Corporate Mafia. He is doing a helluva job.
Obama's pro-war speech when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize was his global announcement of what a 3rd rate fascist pig he is. He and Rahm both. Just two more hack Chicago pols on the make. Obama is just biding time as a predetermined, one term wonder, Judas goat until he can get his hands on all that revolving door lobbyist lucre and book, movie and speaking fees for his grand betrayal of the remnant middle- and lower-working-class. He was groomed by the neo-liberal Economics School at the University of Chicago, the CIA and DLC precisely to be the most politically correct Judas goat in U.S. presidential history.
For those of you who don't know what a Judas goat is: A Judas goat is picked to lead a flock of sheep into a slaughter pen. Once the flock follows the Judas goat in, the goat is set free and the sheep are slaughtered.
Good post! I wish I could disagree.
"Once the flock follows the Judas goat in, the goat is set free and the sheep are slaughtered."
–(metal)
No, the sheep are already dead, they only have to be killed twice, out of spite and to accentuate the American contempt for the living.
The 'slaughter pen' is gratuitous. Death in America is ambient. Death in life.
obama is the country's only hope to avoid ending up again with a caveman president like W in 2012. remember that at this point obama is the only glimmer of decency among actual power players in D.C., since the senate and the congress are dominated by venal chamber-of-commerce demobliRat senators and congressmen.
by being minimalist and playing "team player", obama is being responsible towards what he can give the nation now and towards his duty to keep alive his huge chance for a 2nd term (a 2nd term with huge implications in many respects, e.g., do you really think that is not that important to avoid that additional nazimafia-types like scalia, alito, and roberts become supremos after 2012?).
obama must proceed carefully so he can change things when it's viable, i.e., when he won't be singled out as the only target. he cannot go lone ranger against the plutocrats masters of the universe and become so the only problem in the eyes of the billionaires.
if he tried such a folie, this neo-feudal class of ultra-rich parasites would cough up in a sec more than enough savings to hire full time and for several years every one of the many mercenary armies of the USA plus the whole of organized crime, just to get rid of him (read "magnicide"). and wrong they wouldn't be since all available replacement demobliRAts are guaranteed treasonously pro-billionaire.
obama knows this risk and does not want to become a martyr that goes down in flames just to create awe and emotion in “progressive”[sic] circles.
so be patient and careful about what you ask for, unless you really want to redeem your coupon for the opportunity to end up whining about "the friend of the usurer" aka joseph biden.
you guys should instead be harassing non-stop ali-baba baucus, nelson, dianne bribestein, liebercreep, and all the other by-bribe-only pro-billionaire whores in the senate.
specifically, the wrath of progressives should be funneled into sabotaging the (re)election of sellout blue-slime demobliRat senators and congressmen as well as into purging the party of its other bribed parasites in general.
asking for obama's political suicide now, just because you bought a 72" HD TV screen, is imbecilic and lazy.
Exactly what are the differences between Barry's policies and W. Bush's?
With all respect, your hero Barry Obama has had ample opportunity to give the Amerikkkan people the change and transparency in government that he promised during his campaign. Instead, he has sided with the Republican Party on all matters from civil liberties, banking reform (sic), and health care. He reneged on closing Gitmo, single-payer health insurance, The PATRIOT Act and dozens of other things that I simply can't recall right now.
I will not be voting for Barry or any other member of the Corporate Party that the Democratic and Republican parties are subsidiaries of.
I see that Obama's favorite sport is Calvin Ball.
What he did was essentially support BP's long-term financial and legal interests over the interests of the country and the gulf, not to mention all those poor, helpless Gulf Coast walrus that BP was so concerned about...
If Obama is "our only hope" then hope is a dead dream. I think this is what Obama is: a pressure relief valve put in place to co-opt the opposition and to make sure the lid doesn't blow off the kettle. As it stands now, I don't think he'll get a second term and after he's left office in failure, the door will be opened for the coming Christian Fascist Utopia we've all been praying for for all these years.