3 Years After the BP Spill and We Are Still Sick

As Earth Day passes and we remember the events of the BP Oil Spill three years ago, we are reminded that things have not been made right here along the Gulf Coast. There are many individuals who continue to suffer severe health impacts from the BP Oil Spill. 

LEAN, along with several other groups and individuals have written our concerns in a letter to the agencies charged with protecting the health and safety of the people of the United States. As victims of this disaster have yet to receive adequate assistance from BP or anyone else, we are calling on these agencies to do everything they can to address the suffering still being experienced by so many. 

Read the letter below:

Dear EPA, OSHA, CDC, NIOSH, HHS, NAS,

 

Three years ago, eleven men were killed when the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. This tragic human toll was the beginning of a public health disaster that continues to unfold in a diverse population including: clean-up workers, coastal residents and Gulf Coast tourists. After three years, we find these statements remain to be true:

 

1. The Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent Oil Spill led to severe health impacts for a significant number of individuals, thus impacting the resilience of families and communities.
2. The response and clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill was grossly inadequate and insufficient in its protection of human health for first responders, clean-up workers and the general population along coastal areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico.
3. There is no sufficient method by which individuals whose health has been impacted by events related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill can be effectively identified, diagnosed and treated. 
4. The extensive research and monitoring of impacted populations does not address the immediate medical needs of these individuals and does nothing to alleviate their suffering.

 

As the highest authorities charged with the protection of the citizens of this country, we ask:

 

1. The full extent of possible health impacts from the hazardous materials, including crude oil and dispersants(Corexit 9500, etc.), related to the Oil Spill be acknowledged and communicated adequately to all clean-up workers, tourists and individuals along the Gulf Coast.
2. Sufficient resources and support be made available to the medical community throughout the Gulf Coast to build the knowledge and infrastructure necessary to identify, diagnose, and care for the individuals in this region who have been made ill from their exposure to oil, dispersants and other chemicals related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
3. Health care that specifically and adequately addresses chemical exposure and health impacts related to the Oil Spill be made available immediately to impacted individuals, at no expense to them.

 

The innocent people affected by this disaster deserve to be taken care of.  As the ongoing settlement works to address the economic damages caused by this disaster, it is unacceptable that  individuals experiencing health impacts have been left to fend for themselves. Having already gone unaddressed for three years, it is clear that these victims will go untreated without strong and comprehensive action by you, our government. We look forward to the relief you can bring to those in need of your help and the critical infrastructure you can build that will undoubtedly assist countless other vulnerable populations across the Gulf Coast in the future.

 

Sincerely,

  

Marylee Orr

Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN)

  

Wilma Subra

LEAN / Subra Co.

 

Kindra Arnesen

Mother, wife of fisherman, coastal resident

George Barisich

United Commercial Fisherman’s Association

  

Charlotte Cherry

Galveston Baykeeper

  

Jorey Danos

Oil Spill clean-up worker

  

Shanna Devine

Government Accountability Project

  

Meredith Dowling 

SouthWings

  

Tara Escudero

Better Future Project

  

Cherri Foytlin 

The Mother’s Project – Gulf Coast Mothers for Sustainability

 

Denise Galatas

Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc.

 

Sharon S. Gauthe

Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO)

 

Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological health

  

Steve Kolian

EcoRigs Nonprofit Organization

 

Drew Landry

Musician, activist

 

Bob Lindsey

San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper

  

Louisiana Interchurch Conference

 

Jordan Macha

Sierra Club

 

Haywood Martin

Sierra Club Delta Chapter

 

Paul Orr

Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper

 

Juan Parras

T.E.J.A.S.

 

Kristina Peterson

First Presbyterian Church, Bayou Blue 

 

Scott Porter

EcoRigs Nonprofit Organization

 

Michael R. Robichaux, M.D.

Physician

 

Brenda Dar-Dar Robichaux

former Principal Chief of United Houma Nation

 

Anne Rolfes 

Louisiana Bucket Brigade

 

Cynthia Sarthou

Gulf Restoration Network

 

Bonny L. Schumaker, Ph D. 

On Wings of Care

 

Grace M. Scire

Boat People – SOS

 

Social Justice Team of First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans

 

Dean Wilson

Atchafalaya Basinkeeper

Diane Wilson

Calhoun County Resource Watch

 

If you would like to lend your support for the people of the Gulf Coast by adding your name to this letter please email: contact@leanweb.org