As you’ve read in previous sections, oil production is one of the most important sources of income for the Gulf Coast. Nearly five years after Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast experienced another disaster. This time the disaster was not natural, but manmade.
Remember,

During an oil drill on April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion caused a fireball that could be seen more than 35 miles away. Eleven crewmen died in the explosion and others were injured. The fire burned for more than a day, and then the oil rig sank.

After sinking on April 22, the oil well began gushing oil, causing the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The majority of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon accident reached the shoreline, impacting Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The aerial satellite image below shows the impact of the spill on the Gulf Coast and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

→ Quick Reflection: Based on the images above, how do think this oil spill impacted human life in the Gulf Coast region? How do you think the geographic (or physical) features were impacted?

The oil gushed an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil per day (5000 barrels per day). The oil spill continued until July 15, 2010, when it was capped temporarily. It was finally closed on September 19, 2010. It is estimated that by the end of the spill, 190,120,055 gallons (5 million barrels) of oil had leaked into the Gulf of Mexico.

The spill caused immediate damage to the water and marine life. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides the following information about the effects of the oil spill.

→ Quick Reflection: Was the impact of the oil spill human, physical, or both? What evidence supports your answer?

The oil spill proved to be devastating for the residents of the Gulf Coast. In some aspects, the oil spill caused a double impact because some areas were still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Through funding from BP (the company responsible for the oil rig that caused the spill), people, businesses, and even government entities were compensated for property loss and lost wages.

A website was created by the federal government to provide the public  with information about restoration efforts,  assistance to those affected, and the impact on the environment. Click below to read more.
http://www.restorethegulf.gov/environment

BP has created a similar website dedicated to showing their commitment to restoring the Gulf Coast and the economy. The site also provides methods for those affected to submit claims for compensation.
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9036580&contentId=7067577

The video below demonstrates how BP is helping the Gulf Coast make a comeback after the oil spill.

Think about this: Do you think that BP has done enough to recover the Gulf Coast? What evidence supports your answer? Do you think that the United States government should bear responsiblilty for this event? Why or why not?

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Compare your answer.

On November 15, 2012, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced the following:

"BP Exploration and Production Inc. Agrees to Plead Guilty to Felony Manslaughter, Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Congress Surrounding Deepwater Horizon Incident."

BP Exploration and Production Inc. (BP) has agreed to plead guilty to felony manslaughter, environmental crimes and obstruction of Congress and pay a record $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties for its conduct leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

How did your answer compare to the actual verdict? To read more about it, click here.