#whatstheplanepa campaign
The Problem: Dispersants
During the 2010 BP oil disaster, unprecedented amounts of toxic oil-based dispersants were used to allegedly minimize harm to people and wildlife from the crude oil itself.
Aerial spraying and deep sea injection continued daily, for months. Nothing like this had ever been tried before — it was all a giant experiment.
Oil and dispersants create a toxic cocktail that can be lethal to wildlife and humans. One study found that dispersants can make oil up to 52 times more toxic.
This affects everyone.
By not maintaining a current, science-based national emergency response plan for oil spills, the EPA is putting at risk some 133 million Americans who live near the coasts – that’s 39 percent of the U.S. population. The EPA is putting at risk millions more Americans who visit and recreate at coasts – and the millions more who live near lakes, rivers, or along oil pipeline and railroad corridors.
It’s not a matter of if, but when the next oil-related disaster will occur.
Our Solutions
Legal Action
On January 30, 2020, ALERT with its allies filed a lawsuit to force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize its rules governing use of chemical dispersants in oil spill response.
- The National Contingency Plan was last updated 26 years and uses outdated science to justify expedited and unlimited use of toxic dispersants.
- The plan fails to implement inclusion of local government and citizens, as required by law, to combat government and industry complacency.
- The plan fails to take into account unconventional oil that sinks (tar sands dilbit) or explodes (fracked gas and oil).
Citizen Action
One-minute ways you can help.
The Advocate Toolkit.
Gulf Coast Community Organizations & Allies for Environmental Justice Request President to Withdraw Rule on Dispersant Use Before It Goes into Effect
For Immediate Release Contacts: Riki Ott, Founder/Director, ALERT, a project of Earth Island Institute 206-853-2855, riki@alertproject.org Lesley Pacey, Founder/Director,…
ALERT, Gulf Coast allies request action from EPA Administrator
September 30, 2021. Gulf coast community organizations and allies for environmental justice sent a letter to EPA Administrator Regan…
One step almost forward, two steps definitely backward – EPA pulls a fast one
On July 27, just weeks after the court indicated its inclination to rule in favor of the public interest in…