The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest offshore oil spill in the history of Unites States. The oil spill began in April 20, 2010, with an explosion in the Deepwater Horizon rig stemming from the sea floor oil gusher and it resulted in the untimely death of 11 platform workers and injury of 17 others. Knowing the exact spill flow rate is difficult and it has been estimated that almost 35,000 to 60,000 barrels of oil flow into the water every day. The intensity of the problem is beginning to be realized in terms of environmental sabotage that the oil spill has incurred.

Environmental Hazard

The oil spill will have extensive impact on the marine ecosystem and wildlife habitats, as experts perceive. Though volunteers and rescue works continues to happen, the extent of the oil flow increases day by day and all relief operations seem inadequate. The United States government has blamed BP as the culprit and demands that they be held accountable for the clean - up process.

Currently, the Gulf fishing and tourism industry is vastly affected and volunteers are working to protect lands along the northern Gulf coast with the help of floating containment booms, sand filled barricades, anchored barriers and skimmer ships. Undoubtedly, it will take years to regain the normal marine and wildlife habitat as the effect of the oil spill grows more intrinsic as time passes in the relief operations.

Political Repercussions

Political maneuverings are everywhere! In view of the BP spill, current poll results have shown Barack Obama ratings drop to the lowest level in his presidency term. The common masses have disapproved Obama's handling of the oil disaster as unsatisfactory, as claimed by the Wall Street Journal. While BP promises to contain the oil flow by building two relief wells, the US authorities have shown their displeasure by not relying on BP's promises.

Safety Issues

BP oil spill has once again questioned the safety and security issues with BP. Since Tony Hayward took on leadership in 2007, the oil spill is the latest in a string of accidents and death at BP facilities. It seems that the company violated the prescribed standards of oil exploration beyond its permissible limits of managing the business safely and with integrity. In 2009, the US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis slapped $87.4 million in fines upon the company for disregarding safety issues and taking chances with people's lives. Previous reports by OSHA also suggest that the BP deliberately ignored known hazards and denied fixing them. Even consultation reports before and while the oil rig was established had warned that the Texas City was unsuitable or dangerous place for oil rigging.

Conclusion

Though what has been done cannot be undone now, stress should be upon rectifying and adopting safety standards so that disasters like BP oil spill do not happen in the future. The current relief operations and volunteering work is helping recover what remains from the disaster. We can only hope that BP is made to pay for its wrongdoings and that the disaster finally gives us the push we need to get serious about adopting alternate sources of energy.