The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Coastal Wetland and Wildlife Impacts and Response

Corn, M. Lynne ; Copeland, Claudia

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Marine resources;    Environmental protection;    Water pollution;    Animals;    Oil spills and wildlife;   

RP-ID  :  R41311
RP-ID  :  R41311_2010Oct15

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, and the resulting oil spill began a cascade of effects on the coastal areas of the Gulf and on the wealth of species that inhabit those areas. This report addresses the importance of wetlands in general, the ecology of the coastal wetlands in the Gulf, impacts of oil spills on wetland habitats, response options, the implications of hurricane season for the spill's impacts, and cleanup and recovery issues. The emphasis is on thenearshore environment, although a few species found in deeper waters will be mentioned. In addition, some lessons from past spills such as the Exxon Valdez in Alaska will be discussed, along with issues that may arise as response and recovery transition to restoration of the Gulf.