Endanger Florida Coral Reefs and Coast Like us on Facebook Because of the well's location in the Florida Strait a spill or blowout,
like the one that occurred in the Gulf, would be an environmental disaster
of untold peril, said John Proni of Florida International University, a
scientist with the Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorological Laboratory, a
branch of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Proni, who also testified before the maritime subcommittee, explained that
the Cuban rig sits dangerously close to the Gulf Stream current system.
Any leaked oil that gets into this whirlpool would reach U.S. coastal
waters quickly and threaten the "iconic Florida coral reef system,
important fisheries and breeding grounds, location of threatened and
endangered sea grass and coral, and habitat for rare and endangered
species," Proni said. The drilling of the well is expected to take roughly two months. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement concluded last month
that the Cuban rig met U.S. standards after American offshore oil drilling
regulators boarded and reviewed the Spanish-operated equipment before it
reached Cuban waters. However, because the rig was not bound for U.S.
territory, nor contracted for exploration in the United States, the
regulators had no authority to influence Repsol's plans. The U.S. has
recently overhauled its offshore permitting processes and tightened
regulations -- and it is likely that these rules will continue to evolve
in the coming years. Since the U.S. and Cuba do not have diplomatic
relations, it will be impossible to continue to monitor this offshore
project even as the standards for operating rigs in coastal waters
improve. Oil spills in offshore projects are an increasingly common occurrence.
From the early 1970s through the 1990s there were only four a year in U.S.
waters. But between 2005 and 2010, there was an average of more than 20
oil spills a year in coastal waters. So although Repsol has a relatively
good reputation for quality, the chance of a spill cannot be discounted.
If it occurs in this project, Cuba simply does not have the capabilities
or equipment to respond quickly enough to an accident before it begins to
compromise the waters around it, said Jorge Pinon, a former president of
Amoco Oil Latin America and an expert on Cuba's oil industry. The BP well
blowout required 5,000 vessels, three additional rigs, submersibles, more
than 100 aircraft and 30,000 emergency responders to get under control. "Cuba doesn't have these assets," said Pinon. "They will have to come from
the United States." Because of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which restricts business transactions
and trade between the two countries, U.S. companies and experts would not
be permitted to respond to a Cuban offshore oil rig accident. However,
Pinon noted that the U.S. president could temporarily lift the embargo to
allow crews and first responders to participate in a shutdown and recovery
operation. The Spanish rig uses a U.S. blowout preventer so replacement
equipment could theoretically be sent in as well. But the logistics of such a rescue effort would mar its effectiveness,
Pinon added. With so little routine communication and so much antagonism
between the two countries, it's hard to imagine how a plan could be worked
out quickly for who takes command of the many moving parts involved in a
cleanup. And there would be many questions to address about whether U.S.
spotter and oil dispersant planes could fly in Cuban airspace, where
rescue teams could operate and whether crews would need visas. All of this
could greatly delay the response and increase the chance that the Florida
Keys would be damaged, Pinon said. Jennifer Diaz, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, said the state is in the process of drafting a coastal oil
spill response plan. Two others for the region are being put together by
the U.S. [1]Coast Guard. Lt. Patrick Montgomery, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, which would take
the lead on any ocean cleanup, said it is always on the lookout for oil
spills. But in the event of a spill in Cuban territorial waters, the Coast
Guard's response powers are nil. Montgomery said that under current rules crews can only clean up oil that
is spilled or drifts into U.S. and international waters. But since the
well is in Cuban territory, it will be the responsibility of Cuban and
Repsol authorities to shut down a malfunctioning well and prevent any oil
from leaking. "We have in place contingency plans that adhere to the strictest
international standards and are confident that we have all the elements in
place to deal with potential threats," said Kristian Rix, a spokesman for
Repsol, who did not elaborate further. "Our diligence has been rewarded by
the positive comments and feedback received from the U.S. Coast Guard
during their inspection of the rig." Rix added the company implemented two suggestions made by U.S. regulators
but did not elaborate. Manuel Marrero of the Cuban Ministry of Basic Industry said on the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website that Cuba's environmental regulations
pertaining to oil drilling are "very strict and severe." Companies
involved in the drilling of offshore oil in Cuban waters will be required
to have equipment and a logistics center in the coastal town of Mariel,
located several miles outside Havana. None of this is comforting to Frank Verrastro, senior VP and director of
the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Energy and National
Security Program, who put it succinctly: Cuba has never drilled for
deepwater oil before and "the expectation is [Cubans] don't have the
capability to handle [a large spill]." References Visible links
1. http://www.ibtimes.com/topics/detail/469/coast-guard/
Original Source / Fuente Original:
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/296258/20120210/gulf-mexico-florida-coast-gu
ard-cuba-oil.htm
Source: http://cubaldirect.posterous.com/021012-international-business-times-cuban-oil
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