Why isn't the tea party protesting BP?

The Jones Act Myth
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...l-spill/58915/
The truth: Not a single government that has offered its assets for free
has been refused by the U.S. ... The government, on Obama's orders, is
moving to quickly streamline the complicated procedures for waiving the
Jones Act, which only applies to ships within three miles off the coast.
The Coast Guard says that no one has asked them to waive the Jones Act
yet. ... Most of the containment and assistance offers wouldn't apply,
because ships would be well outside the three-mile threshold, or because
they fall into a category of ships with a specific purpose, like oil
skimmers. They're already exempt.

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http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill/

Deepwater BP Oil Spill
"To the people of the Gulf Coast: I know that you've weathered your fair
share of trials and tragedy. I know there have been times where you've
wondered if you were being asked to face them alone. I am here to tell
you that you're not alone. You will not be abandoned. You will not be
left behind."
-- President Barack Obama, U.S. Coast Guard Station, Grande Isle,
Louisiana, 5/28/10

Read the Transcript
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...g-bp-oil-spill
Download Video: mp4 (136MB)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/201...randIsleLA.mp4
mp3 (13MB)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/201...randIsleLA.mp3

Information on Spill-Related Damages and Claims
Fishermen and those affected by the BP Oil Spill who wish to contact BP
about a claim should call 1-800-440-0858. For those who have already
pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP's
resolution, can call the Coast Guard at 1-800-280-7118. For more
information on assistance for small business owners and others in
affected areas, visit
http://www.disasterassistance.gov/di...deepwater.html

What You Can Do
Request volunteer information and register to volunteer: (866)-448-5816
Submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system or submit
alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511
Report oiled or injured wildlife: 1-866-557-1401
Report oil on land: 1-866-448-5816

State specific volunteer opportunities:
Louisiana
http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov

Mississippi
http://www.volunteermississippi.org/...IndexAction.do

Florida
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org

Alabama
http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx


Federal Response Resources
Check out the links below to find out how federal departments and
agencies are responding to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill:

Joint Information Center
At the beginning of the event, the Coast Guard elevated the response and
established a Regional Command Center and Joint Information Center in
Robert, La., inviting all partners in the response to join. Get the
latest updates from the partners on the ground in the Gulf Coast:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
*
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/DeepwaterHorizonResponse

Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepwaterhorizonresponse/

Twitter
http://twitter.com/Oil_Spill_2010

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/deepwaterhorizonjic

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Since the moments after the oil rig explosion on the night of April 20,
DHS has played a lead role in federal response efforts — deploying the
U.S. Coast Guard to search and rescue the 126 people aboard the rig, and
quickly leading efforts to establish a command center on the Gulf Coast
to address the potential environmental impact of the event and to
coordinate with all state and local governments. Secretary Napolitano
leads the National Response Team, an organization of 16 federal
departments and agencies responsible for coordinating emergency
preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution
events.


U.S. Coast Guard
The Coast Guard has played a major role from the very beginning, when it
responded to the explosion on a search and rescue mission to save lives.
Pursuant to the National Contingency Plan, Rear Admiral Mary Landry was
named the Federal On-Scene Coordinator to lead a Regional Response Team
which was stood up that included DHS, DOC/NOAA, DOI and the EPA, as well
as state and local representatives. As the event escalated, Coast Guard
Admiral Thad Allen was announced as the National Incident Commander for
the administration's continued, coordinated response — providing
additional coordinated oversight in leveraging every available resource
to respond to the BP oil spill and minimize the associated environmental
risks.

Department of the Interior (DOI)
The morning after the explosion, Secretary of the Interior deployed
Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes to the Gulf Coast to assist with
coordination and response to the event, and provide hourly reports back
to the administration. Since then, DOI has played a vital role in
overseeing BP's response efforts while — at the President's request
— working to deliver a report with recommendations on what, if any,
additional safety measures should be required for offshore operations.
Secretary Salazar has announced that inspections of all deepwater rigs
and platforms are underway.


Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Since the BP Oil Spill, EPA has provided full support to the U.S. Coast
Guard and is monitoring and responding to potential public health and
environmental concerns. Environmental data, including air quality and
water samples, will be posted and frequently updated on this site as it
is collected and validated by EPA's response teams along the impacted
coastlines. This data is meant to determine potential risks to public
health and the environment:
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
As the nation's leading scientific resource for oil spills, NOAA has
been on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon spill from the start,
providing coordinated scientific weather and biological response
services to federal, state and local organizations:
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon
Weather Forecast: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/

Small Business Administration
SBA is making low-interest loans available to small businesses in the
Gulf Coast regions of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi
suffering financial losses following the April 20 Deepwater BP oil spill
that shut down commercial and recreational fishing in the Gulf of
Mexico. SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available
immediately in designated counties and parishes of each of the four
states to help meet the financial needs of qualifying small businesses
following the oil spill:
http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/


Department of Defense (DOD)
DOD continues to support the ongoing response effort by lending Naval
and Air Force bases to provide vital staging areas for boom deployments
and other activities, and providing C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular
Aerial Spray Systems, which dispense chemical dispersant — capable of
covering up to 250 acres per flight. DOD also plays a significant role
in the National Response Team, helping to lead the coordination of
response actions for the federal government. Secretary of Defense Gates
has authorized use of Title 32 status for up to 17,500 National Guard
members in four states: Alabama (3,000), Florida (2,500), Louisiana
(6,000) and Mississippi (6,000).


Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service
The Fish and Wildlife Service continues to support the joint agency
response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with
experienced specialists, land managers, and support personnel. Booms to
capture and deflect anticipated oil are being deployed at Breton
National Wildlife Refuge, where thousands of brown pelicans and
shorebirds are currently nesting. The Service also is initiating Natural
Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration activities in this incident
to assess and address the long-term damage to impacted resources:
http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill


Department of the Interior's National Park Service
The National Park Service is focused on human safety and resource
protection in eight national parks in the Gulf area. These parks are
working to assess resources, collect baseline data, coordinate boom
placements, plan for responsible cleanup, install barriers for shore
bird and turtle nest protection, and plan for potential park closures,
if necessary:
http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm


National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Oil spill response workers may be exposed to many different chemical,
physical, biological, and psychological hazards. These hazards vary
depending on the type and location of the oil spill, type and stage of
response, degree of coordination between entities involved in response
and recovery, and the workers' specific tasks. Therefore, occupational
and environmental hazards need to be identified, assessed, and monitored
in each oil spill response:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse

Daily Updates
A chronology of the ongoing administration-wide response to the
Deepwater BP Oil Spill, beginning on April 20, is available here.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/issue...r-BP-Oil-Spill

Information on Air, Food, and Water Safety
Air: With the prevalence of vapor concerns from oil near the Gulf coast
and the controlled burning to help contain the spread of oil, air
quality is a health concern. EPA has initiated an air monitoring effort
to ensure the safety of local residents and track any developing air
quality changes.

Food:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210970.htm
Although crude oil has the potential to taint seafood with flavors and
odors caused by exposure to hydrocarbon chemicals, the public should not
be concerned about the safety of seafood in stores at this time.
There is no reason to believe that any contaminated product has made its
way to the market.

Water:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/
NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters
most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state
waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida's
Pensacola Bay. The closure is effective immediately.
Fishermen who wish to contact BP about a claim should call
1-800-440-0858.


Related Blog Posts
July 01, 2010 6:11 PM EDT
Vice President Biden's Visit to the Gulf Coast
Vice President Biden travels to the Gulf Coast to assess the ongoing
efforts to counter the BP oil spill -- get a first hand account with
photos.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/...t-gulf-coast-0

July 01, 2010 10:15 AM EDT
The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill:

June 30, 2010
President Obama sends a memorandum to the heads of Executive Departments
and Agencies regarding the Long-Term Gulf Coast Restoration Support Plan
to create a plan of federal support for the long-term economic and
environmental restoration of the Gulf Coast region.

June 30, 2010 9:42 AM EDT
The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill:

June 29, 2010
Vice President Joe Biden visits New Orleans and Pensacola, Fla., to
survey the response efforts, visit with Gulf Coast residents impacted by
the spill, and meet with area officials.
view all related blog posts
Related Video

June 18, 2010
West Wing Week: "Gator-cade" From the Press Office

July 01, 2010 7:26 PM EDT
Readout of the President's Briefing Today on the BP Deepwater Horizon
Oil Spill

July 01, 2010 7:01 PM EDT
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and National Incident
Commander Thad Allen, 7/1/2010

June 25, 2010 12:38 PM EDT
Vice President Biden to Travel to Gulf Coast Next

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The Official Site Of The Deepwater Horizon Unified Command
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/

GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse is a new online tool that provides you with
near-real time information about the response effort.
Developed by NOAA with the EPA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of
Interior, the site offers you a "one-stop shop" for spill response
information.
http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...n-bp-oil-spill

EPA Responds to the BP Oil Spill along the Gulf Coast
http://www.epa.gov/oilspill/

http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/

British Petroleum - BP Global
Gulf of Mexico response - Offshore containment - Reports from the Gulf-
Total oil recovered from both the lower marine riser package (LMRP)
containment cap and Q4000 systems
http://www.BP.com/GulfOfMexicoResponse

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The White House. President Barack Obama

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http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/obamahq

http://my.barackobama.com/CleanEnergyUpdate

http://www.healthreform.gov/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/
The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises