Future catastrophic oil spills need to be eliminated due to the drastic effects oil spills can have on the environment and people working in the oil industry; and people who’s lifestyles depend on the sea for survival and on the land that provides fresh drinking water from pure aquifers.
The Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has brought the whole issue of oil spills to the forefront of the minds of all people in America and worldwide. What should be done to eliminate future oil spill catastrophes?
Here are a few ideas about eliminating future catastrophic oil spills:
1) Federal regulations regarding the safety of oil rigs.
Oil rigs need to undergo thorough inspections and be registered the way cars are inspected and registered.
2) Stiff safety guidelines
All oil rigs must meet stiff guidelines for safety and should be inspected at regular intervals.
3) Up-to-date technology
Oil rigs should be up-to-date and run on new technology.
4) Leakage monitoring and prevention
Oil rigs should be designed with internal monitoring of leakage with backup leakage prevention installed and monitored with the highest computer technology available.
5) Not just oil rigs, other oil equipment also
All other equipment, such as transport carriers, trucks, ships and tankers, processing plants must come under rigid safety regulations and inspections for the safety of workers, the environment, and the general public.
6) Stop drilling for oil
The best way to eliminate future oil spill catastrophes is to stop drilling for oil. We don’t need to use up the life blood of the planet to fill the coffers of greedy oil companies and corporations.
7) Energy alternatives
Encourage companies interested in energy resources to convert to biofuels such as methane which can help solve landfill waste problems and the problems of human and animal wastes everywhere. Solar power is another energy source that can be utilized in many ways especially as passive solar power. Solar power is another alternative to oil, without a big safety problem attached to it.
8) Government oversight of federal officials
All federal officials or people who are supposed to have oversight on federal regulations and safety measures must not have investments in oil companies or accept bribes and gifts from oil companies.
9) Review of employees of safety regulations agencies
There should be periodic reviews of anyone employed by the government’s safety regulations management; and anyone investing in oil companies or accepting gifts from oil companies should be terminated or sent to another government agency not involved in oil.
10) Review of judges
There should be a review of judges also who may decide on regulations. This could be much the same as a review of courtroom jurors eliminating jurors who already are personally involved in the case to be tried. A judge who is personally involved in oil such as investing in oil companies should not be allowed to make decisions regarding oil safety.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) in the US
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has made some strides toward improving oil occupational safety regulations. Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Ken Salazar has divided the MMS into three separate departments:
* The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
* The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
* The Office of Natural Resource Revenue
(Construction of a new website is under way for MMS).
Secretary Salazar has also appointed Michael R. Bromlich to lead the reforms in oil safety.
For the safety of all peoples and animals on the planet it is essential to have the strictest rules and guidelines regarding oil safety. The best way to eliminate future catastrophic oil spills is to stop drilling for oil and use alternative energy.
