Markey Queries EPA on Use of Dispersants in Waterways

Lawmaker Raised Concerns About Use of Dispersant The Corexit During BP Oil Spill  

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the leading Congressional voice pushing for oversight and safety regarding the response to the BP oil spill, today sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking what steps the agency is taking to ensure that future oil and gas spill mitigation agents, including the use of dispersants, have undergone appropriate testing prior to their use in our waterways. During the BP oil spill, millions of gallons of chemical dispersant were added to the Gulf of Mexico waters with impacts that still are not fully understood. The EPA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report that made recommendations for EPA to improve its response during spills of national significance, including establishing a research plan on the long-term health and environmental impacts of dispersants.

"Numerous questions have been raised about the choice of Corexit and the general effectiveness of dispersants, their inherent toxicity, and the toxicity of dispersed oil," wrote Rep. Markey, top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. "We need to understand the steps EPA is taking to respond to the recommendations provided by OIG and how the agency is working to incorporate lessons from the BP oil spill into contingency plans for future spills."  

 A copy of the letter to the EPA can be found HERE.