Posted by David Lungren David_Lungren@epw.senate.gov

In the News... 

E&E News

Actor, EPA officials to discuss ocean toxins, oil dispersants

(05/10/2010)

Paul Quinlan, E&E reporter

Link to Article

Actor Sam Waterston, of "Law & Order" and "The Killing Fields" fame, will testify at a hearing tomorrow exploring ocean acidification and the oil dispersants being sprayed over the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Two Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittees will host the joint hearing to examine U.S. EPA's work to monitor and reduce environmental risks to marine and coastal ecosystems.

The oceans have grown increasingly acidic, acting as a giant sink that absorbs almost a third of the carbon dioxide humans produce and sparing humans from some of the worst effects of climate change.

Now, scientists say, the world's seawaters are reaching a saturation point. Researchers have found that oysters, shrimp and other shellfish are struggling to construct their shells. Scientists, meanwhile, predict a mass extinction of coral by the middle to the end of the century, barring substantial reductions in CO2 emissions.

No legislation has been introduced yet, although EPA officials will be asked what can be done "to address the issues in the near term," according to Seth Larson, spokesman for Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). The hearing was in the works long before the recent oil spill that is now expected to become part of the discussion, aides say.

Two EPA deputy assistant administrators, Nancy Stoner, of the Office of Water, and Jim Jones, of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, will address the panel, although neither is anticipated to address questions regarding oil dispersant use, according to committee staff. A separate hearing is being organized for the next week that could include EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and other officials currently at the spill site.

But questions about dispersants will be directed to those testifying, such as Carys Mitchelmore, associate professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, who has some expertise on dispersant use.

Oil dispersant acts something like dish soap, breaking up much of the oil floating on the surface into microscopic droplets. It leaves behind a rust-colored mousse-like substance as toxic oil components -- benzene, for one -- evaporate. The droplets sink in the water column, where they encounter plankton and larvae. It will be years or maybe decades before the long-term effects of chemical warfare against the oil spill become known, scientists say (Greenwire, May 7).

Waterston, the actor and a board member for Oceana, the largest international ocean protection and restoration environmental advocacy group, will talk about, among other things, the need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels.

"It's dirty and dangerous, as we've seen," said Jackie Savitz, Oceana's senior campaign director. "Rather than expanding [drilling] we should be starting to build the clean energy future."

EPW's Water and Wildlife Subcommittee will co-host the hearing with the Oversight subpanel.

Schedule: The hearing is tomorrow at 10 a.m. in 406 Dirksen.

Witnesses: Nancy Stoner, deputy assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Water; Jim Jones, deputy assistant administrator of EPA's office of chemical safety and pollution prevention; Roger Payne, founder and president of Ocean Alliance; Carys Mitchelmore, associate professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; Sam Waterston, board member of Oceana; and John Everett, president of Ocean Associates Inc.

###