BerkeleyLaw Library

"Major energy transitions are accompanied by transformative cultural, economic, demographic, technological, and environmental changes. The transition to fossil fuel-based energy systems powered rapid economic growth and raised living standards, but it also caused pervasive environmental change at local, regional, and global scales, as well as violent conflict over remaining supplies of oil. The fossil fuel transition co-evolved with a culture that places a high value on consumerism and affluence, a lifestyle that requires large amounts of energy to support and generates significant wastes. In our time the depletion of fossil fuels (especially oil), surging energy demand in the developing world, and the need to manage future climate change are driving humanity to the brink of another major energy transition."—About.

Includes daily entires on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill by the numbers.

"RestoretheGulf.gov is the official federal portal for the Deepwater BP oil spill response and recovery. This site provides the public with information on the response, current operations, news and updates, how to file a claim and obtain other assistance, and links to federal, state and local partners."—About Us.

"A Unified Command has been established to manage response operations to the April 20, 2010 'Deepwater Horizon' incident. A Unified Command links the organizations responding to an incident and provides a forum for those organizations to make consensus decisions. This site is maintained by the Unified Command's Joint Information Center (JIC), which provides the public with reliable, timely information about the response."—About Us.

The official site for the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command began transitioning to www.RestoreTheGulf.gov in July 2010. 

"The National Laboratories were convened by the Department of Energy and tasked to begin looking at ways to plug the leak in the Gulf the week of April 26th."

ESRI, a producer of geographic information system technology, has created a number of resources on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, including

• an interactive social media map that allows users to add YouTube videos, pictures, and other resources,
• a timeline map showing the extent of the spill, and
• an economic impact map showing the percentage of economic activity from affected industries.

"The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been designated the lead state agency for responding to potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida's shoreline. This website will serve as the primary location for updates and information on response actions and impacts to the state of Florida...

"Governor Charlie Crist has made Florida's preparation for possible landfall of the oil spill a top priority. Since Governor Crist's first flyover of the oil spill on Tuewsday, April 27, 2010, he has worked to ensure that Florida is vigilant to take every necessary action to protect the Sunshine State's beaches and the health and well-being of both residents and visitors." — About

"The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) oil spill website, hosted by the four GOM Sea Grant programs, provides visitors with access to a wealth of data concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Website content will be continually updated, and visitors should check back often for new and revised information."

"The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst spill in U.S. history. It has major environmental and economic effects. It also has the potential to affect human health. Many people have concerns, including:

• Response workers
• Coastal residents
• Visitors to the area
• People who like seafood 

Overview of information related to:

• What will happen to a hurricane that runs through this oil slick?
• What will the hurricane do to the oil slick in the Gulf?
• Will the oil slick help or hurt a storm from developing in the Gulf?
• Will the hurricane pull up the oil that is below the surface of the Gulf?
• Have we had experience in the past with hurricanes and oil spills?
• Will there be oil in the rain related to a hurricane?

"As of May 28, 2010, the National Park Service has two incident management teams deployed to respond to potential oil impacts in the Gulf. Additionally, National Park Service employees are supporting the response both at the scene of the oil spill and from across the country as subject matter experts and by providing technical information.

The National Park Service is focused on human safety and resource protection in eight national parks in the Gulf area. These parks are working to assess resources, collect baseline data, coordinate boom plcements, plan for responsible cleanup, install barriers for shore bird and turtle nest protection (during cleanup), and plan for potential park closures, if necessary." — What We're Doing.

"The Oil Spill Academic Task Force (OSATF) is a consortium of scientists and scholars from institutions in the State University System as well as from four of Florida's private universities working in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The OSATF brings together expertise and resources to assist the state of Florida and the Gulf region in preparing for and responding to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

"Major activities of the OSTAF include:

• Coordination of activities with state and other academic resources in Florida's institutions of higher learning
• Serving as a clearing house of information on faculty research expertise and capabilities for local, state and federal agencies
• Providing a communication conduit for researchers within the task force and throughout the region.
  

This website is designed to provide information on the academic task force, and links to partners and other resources." — OSATF Home Page.

Coverage of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill aggregated from a variety of sources including: news media sources, government sources, congressional hearings, commercial sources, research and experts, mapping and infographics, and additional sources.

"On March 24, 1989 the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles of coastline - a catastrophic event that lead to one of the most thorough examinations of the effects of oil on the environment. While the vast majority of the spill area now appears to have recovered, pockets of crude oil remain in some locations, and there is evidence that some damage is continuing.

"The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council was established with funds from the legal settlement between the State of Alaska, the Federal Government and Exxon to develop research, restoration and habitat conservation plans for the spill area. The NMFS Alaska Regional Administrator represents NOAA on the Council and oversees the NMFS Office of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Damage Assessment and Restoration. The EVOS office administers projects carried out by NMFS researchers and outside contractors, and facilitates research planning and coordination between EVOS projects and other programs." — About NOAA Fisheries' EVOS Office. 

Includes information on the oil spill, research and restoration, and civil settlement documents.

"The deepwater Gulf of Mexico has become an important oil and gas province and, therefore, has experienced a substantial increase in leasing, exploration, development, and production activities. This trend is expected to continue although the remote location, harsh operating environment, new and unusual technologies, different operating procedures, and additional environmental issues present regulator and environmental concerns. Additional information on deepwater-related issues will enhance MMS environmental analyses and assist in management of this lesser known area."

This site includes deepwater NEPA documents and a variety of deepwater environmental publications. 

"Welcome to the Minerals Management Service's Electronic Reading Room, which contains documents related to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that have been cleared for public release...

"Please note that we will be adding to this collection regularly as we continue to process and release documents that have been requested by members of the public and by members of Congress."

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has sent more than 300 personnel into the Gulf of Mexico region to respond to the BP Oil Spill. We are working with BP and many partners to do everything we can to minimize the impact of the oil spill on fish, wildlife and habitat.

"Our people are preparing for potential oil impact at 33 wildlife refuges that line the ocasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. We are conducting aerial and ground surveys to assess the damage, and recovering oiled or injured wildlife to be cleaned, healed and released in safe locations." — What We are Doing.

U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources page dedicated to the investigation of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, including links to press releases, hearing videos, and other materials specific to the Deepwater Horizon accident and offshore oil drilling more generally.

"The OWCN is the world's only oiled wildlife response organization boasting more than 25 different members comprised of world-class aquaria, universities, scientific organizations and rehabilitation groups. Established in 1994 by the Department of Fish and Game's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) as a result of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, it is currently administered by the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center in the School of Veterinary Medicine." — About Us.