EPA Responds to Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Spill: Creates New Web Site to Provide Updates on Disaster

The EPA, along with other federal agencies, is conducting an investigation into the events which led to the April 2010 explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon. The now sunken oil rig has created a spill of epic proportions, which will affect the Gulf region both environmentally and economically.

IMPORTANT: If your livelihood or property is affected by the spill, we urge you to seek legal counsel before signing job applications or other documents. You may be signing away your legal rights to take part in a class action lawsuit.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Interior, is investigating the incident that led to the April 22, 2010 explosion and fire about the oil rig known as the Deepwater Horizon. The incident claimed the lives of 11 men aboard the rig, whose bodies have yet to be recovered.

As of April 2010, the EPA’s role in the oil spill disaster will focus on studies of air quality in the gulf region.

In addition to issues about potential air problems from the disaster, the environmental water pollution impacts from the sunken oil rig are significant.  The spill has resulted in the release of an estimated 5,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf each day, are monumental.  The amount of oil in each of those estimated 5,000 barrels equals 210,00 gallons of crude oil, which would weigh more than 11.8 million pounds.

EPA Response
The EPA published the following comments on their Web site:

Since the British Petroleum Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico on April 22, 2010, EPA has provided full support to the U.S. Coast Guard and is monitoring and responding to potential public health and environmental concerns. EPA continues to closely coordinate with other federal, state and local agencies as well.

Environmental data, including air quality samples, will be posted and frequently updated on this site as it is collected and validated by EPA’s response teams along the impacted coastlines. This data is meant to determine potential risks to public health and the environment.

In addition, their response to the disaster includes a number of additional online resources, which can be found at the following Web site.

Get Help From Weitz & Luxenberg
For over 25 years, Weitz & Luxenberg’s lawyers have been fighting for the rights of those whose property, health and livelihoods have been impacted by environmental pollution, and we are ready to help you, your family and your business.

In April 2010, our lawyers, together with a consortium of law firms in the U.S., filed lawsuits in response to the BP oil spill. The complaints (Case Numbers 3:10-cv-00137-MCR-EMT and 2:10-cv-01229-KDE-SS) seek to recover damages on behalf of our clients whose businesses and properties were affected by the oil spill.

If your business or family is facing property damage or business interruption by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, please complete the form on this page to have your possible lawsuit reviewed by our firm.

A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.

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