The U.S. Department of Justice announced a $4 billion settlement between the federal government and BP Exploration and Production, Inc. concerning the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The Department of Justice also announced a second legal settlement where Transocean Deepwater Inc., the operator of the drilling platform, has agreed to pay $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines to the federal government. As part of the settlement, NAS has been asked by the department to establish a new $350 million, 30-year program on human health and environmental protection in the Gulf of Mexico. The program will be conducted in partnership with the NAE, IOM, and NRC.
The Transocean and BP agreements both recognize that the Gulf program will be conducted solely at our direction, based on scientific merit and integrity with emphasis on freedom of inquiry and independent, nonpartisan advice and recommendations. This collection is comprised of titles that address issues and provide recommendations surrounding the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
196 pagesMacondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety (2011)
The blowout of the Macondo well on April 20, 2010, led to enormous consequences for the individuals involved in the drilling operations, and for their families. Eleven workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig lost their lives and 16 others ...[more]
162 pagesOn April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon platform drilling the Macondo well in Mississippi Canyon Block 252 (DWH) exploded, killing 11 workers and injuring another 17. The DWH oil spill resulted in nearly 5 million barrels (approximately 200 million gallons) ...[more]
200 pagesFrom the origin of the leak, to the amount of oil released into the environment, to the spill's duration, the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill poses unique challenges to human health. The risks associated with extensive, prolonged use of ...[more]
28 pagesInterim Report on Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Blowout and Ways to Prevent Such Events (2010)
The National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council have released the interim report of the Committee on the Analysis of Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Fire, and Oil Spill to Identify Measures to Prevent Similar Accidents in ...[more]
28 pagesResearch Priorities for Assessing Health Effects from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: A Letter Report (2010)
It is as yet uncertain how the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will affect the health of clean-up workers and volunteers, residents, and visitors in the Gulf. The IOM recommends that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focus ...[more]
106 pagesTRB Special Report 309: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Offshore Safety and Environmental Management Systems recommends that the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) take a holistic approach to evaluating the effectiveness offshore oil and gas industry operators' Safety and ...[more]
400 pagesOil Spill Dispersants: Efficacy and Effects (2005)
Although significant steps have been taken over the last 15 years to reduce the size and frequency of oil spills, the sheer volume of petroleum consumed in the United States and the complex production and distribution network required to meet ...[more]