Americans Offer Support to Spill Responders

Jane Van Ryan
Posted April 26, 2010

The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to hold another news conference at 4:00 East Coast time today about the Deepwater Horizon tragedy.

In the meantime, Americans all over the country are monitoring the efforts to stop the flow of oil. At last report, about 1,000 barrels of oil per day continued to leak from the bent drill pipe, and responders were planning to use remote-controlled robots to turn valves in the blowout preventer to shut the well.

Despite the blaze and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon, President Obama said last week that he has no plans to reconsider his plans for expanded offshore drilling.

According to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, the president remains convinced that the nation needs more domestic drilling. "We need the increased production," Gibbs said. "The president still continues to believe the great majority of that can be done safely, securely and without any harm to the environment." (Reuters)

In an editorial on Saturday, The New York Times agreed:

"This tragedy is not reason enough to reverse that decision. A balanced energy strategy will have to include the search for conventional fuels even as the country moves quickly to alternative energy sources...so far, this accident is not an argument for abandoning a strategy of careful, disciplined exploration."

Along the Gulf coast, an area where many oil and natural gas workers live with their families, members of the general public continue to offer their heartfelt support. On the Houston Chronicle's Web site and blog, WeToldYouSo commented on a report about state officials' actions to protect their coastlines from the oil spill:

"We hope their efforts are successful. Oil and gas energy from offshore is essential to the security of America and to our economy."

Similarly on the Times-Picayune Web site and blog, TinFoilHatGuy commented on the use of remote-controlled underwater robots to stop the flow of oil. He wrote:

"I hope the ROV's can do it. Good luck to the pilots and crews."

We, too, wish the responders good luck. People in the oil and natural gas industry worldwide are watching the situation in the Gulf closely. We all hope the oil can be stopped as quickly as possible to protect the environment.