BP Oil Spill Now Worst in US History

Key West, FLOn July 1 the BP oil spill officially became the worst spill ever to hit the Gulf of Mexico. It was back in 1979 that a well blew out in the Gulf just off the coast of Mexico, spilling 140 billion gallons of crude into the sea. The current Gulf of Mexico spill has now topped that and shows no signs of slowing down.

The oil is devastating the shorelines, eco systems and residents in the direct path of the spill. It is a well known fact that the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill is hurting the fishing industry. Shrimp boat captains are vying for work in spill containment, as there is no longer a viable catch to pursue. A shrimper reportedly committed suicide after he saw his life and livelihood disappear under the oozing BP crude oil. Operators of resorts in Louisiana and nearby locales are seeing their bookings disappear.

Ye the spill is also affecting those as far away as the Florida Keys. The Keys have not been physically impacted by the spill, but tourists think otherwise and are staying home.

Pete Lacombe knows this frustration well, according the 7/1/10 issue of the New York Times. "I need 10 trips a week to make enough to survive," says Captain Pete, as he is known. "Now I'm looking at none."

Lacombe takes underwater enthusiasts on diving expeditions to the coral reefs. Now tourists are not bothering to even book, let alone make the trip.

A former insurance adjuster from the Midwest, Lacombe doesn't make a killing in the best of times. In a good year, according to the New York Times, a good captain can earn $40,000 a year. Even that has been a challenge in the last couple of years, due to the recession.

Now, Lacombe has resorted to hawking his homemade mustard recipe just to stay afloat financially. He's hoping to sell enough 16-ounce Mason jars of Captain Pete's Banana Pepper Mustard at $5 a pop to put food on the table and make his rent.

The New York Times reported yesterday that the director of the fund established to compensate victims has indicated businesses can apply for emergency lump-sum payments that would no longer have a pre-determined limit. Kenneth Feinberg said the payments, stemming from the $20 billion escrow fund set up by British Petroleum, would also be accelerated.

Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit filed by a collection of wildlife protection groups asserts that BP's practice of burning off spilled oil is most likely endangering and probably killing sea turtles. The plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to issue a restraining order on controlled burns.

A British Petroleum spokesperson told the Associated Press that BP oil spill officials were making an attempt to locate sea turtles and put them out of harm's way prior to initiating the burn.