Weekly roundup 5/14/10: Expanding the gulf liability, leak stoppage failed and more

Unfortunately, the biggest story this week is still the Gulf Coast oil disaster caused by the explosion of an offshore BP oilrig. The first attempt to stop the flow of oil into the gulf has failed. New ideas about how to stop the oil flow have arisen, while new underwater footage of the leak has been released. In other news, legislation has been introduced to expand the amount of damages the oil companies are liable for in this unprecedented disaster. Finally, the Kerry-Lierberman "American Power Act" is out and pending analysis.

Under water footage of the leak has been released. This video depicts the ongoing catastrophic disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. You can see the oil and poisonous gas leaking from the pipe directly into the ocean which will affect generations of human, animal and plant life to come:

BP attempted to stop the leak by lowering a dome onto the spot leaking oil into the Gulf. The attempt failed because of ice crystals that developed in the dome due to cold water temperature coupling with gas coming out of the underwater pipe. This failure was not a big surprise since this procedure had never been attempted at this depth for that very reason.

Now, new ideas have been floating around about attempting to stop the leak by shooting trash into it. This half cocked "idea" makes clear that the oil companies have no idea what they are doing in this situation and have complete disregard for the safety of the environment. Watch the video here.

Legislation has been introduced to ensure that oil companies are held accountable for disasters like the one in the Gulf. A bit of politics have been played over the issue with the GOP pushing back on expanding the liability for oil companies. Because of the Republican objections, Democrats failed to secure the quick passage of the oil spill liability measure. Democrats did some posturing on the issue and accused members of the GOP of "sandbagging" the oil spill legislation. Specifically Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska stood in opposition to passage of the bill. Transocean also opposed expanding the degree to which they are liable for the oil spill.

Finally, the Kerry-Lieberman "American Power Act" has finally been introduced in the Senate. The jury seems to still be out on the analysis of the bill because many different people have written pro-APA bill articles, anti-APA bill articles (1, 2, 3), and mixed reviews. President Obama praised the bill in an article featured here. Read the bill for yourself here.