Oil spills 21st-century fossil fuel regulations in the United States

the national oceanic , atmospheric administration within united states department of commerce developed graphic of largest oil spills impacting u.s. waters since 1969. since 2000, largest spill has been deepwater horizon spill of 2010. exception of kalamazoo river (2010), other major spills have occurred around gulf of mexico.

map of largest oil spills in u.s. waters since 1969

in may 2010, united states department of interior called end drilling in area of deepwater horizon spill. despite pushback oil companies , states, supreme court ruled keep moratorium in place until october 2010. bp agreed financial compensation damage caused, including payouts deepwater horizon oil spill trust. regulations drafted after accident required oil companies update safety equipment, including blowout preventers. measure criticized costly integrate , harmful industry , job growth, has been weakly enforced.

despite actions taken, region has been slow recover. during moratorium, there decrease in employment in oil industry along florida coast , net increase in employment in louisiana, received more concern oil industry. coastal areas impacted economically more inland areas. louisiana fishing industry shown still damaged spill years after had occurred. oyster numbers in particular have dropped in region. other @ risk species used sustenance include speckled trout, crabs, , mullet. due proximity spill site, louisiana bore brunt of clean efforts. bp decided on oil dissolving chemical corexit shown united states environmental protection agency neither or least toxic option. criticisms of use of chemical included health impacts on humans, such headaches, vomiting, , reproductive problems.

the kalamazoo river oil spill, first major dilbit spill, occurred in june 2010 in calhoun county, michigan, , led largest on-land spill in american history @ time. pipeline company enbridge promised improve safety measures , agreed pay $177 million resolve violations of clean water act , oil pollution act including additional fines cover other spills , clean-up costs after investigation u.s. department of justice , environmental protection agency. although enbridge purchased 148 houses plus land , mobile homes along spill route, residents did not return area. county director of emergency management believed majority of people living along river won t impacted settlement. city of battle creek, michigan sits in middle of area damage spill occurred; 21.7% of population below poverty line compared 17.5% calhoun county , 18.3% kalamazoo county oil flowed. percentage of population of michigan below poverty line 16.7%. under section 311(c) of clean water act, epa able order enbridge finish cleaning oil spill. although no specific regulations dilbit oil have been proposed, in 2013 when plans keystone xl pipeline being developed, epa recommended state department “include means address additional risks of releases may greater spills of dilbit other crudes” in response damages caused kalamazoo river oil spill. dilbit oil more readily evaporates surface of water normal crude oil, , after evaporation occurs remaining product sinks faster.