[quote=Arraya]
What is $4300 x the number of barrels per day spilled. It’s like 50-200 million per day give or take. That is the EPA fine for gross negligence.[/quote]
Good point. I’ve heard the fine-per-barrel numbers as well as the limit on liability, but haven’t heard if either of these are going to be enforced/modified/overturned. Anyone know? I have a feeling that everything’s going to be thrown out the window at some point.
Also, does anyone know how much the drilling/refining industries contribute to the Gulf states’ economies? The way the GOP is coming out today makes it sound like stopping offshore drilling will destroy their economies… as if they weren’t already devastated. I watched the press conference today where they trotted out rig workers who gave sob stories about how they won’t be able to buy their kids toys at WalMart if their offshore drilling jobs remain under moratorium. Certainly these workers are getting shafted at no fault of their own — and I feel sorry for them and their unfortunate situation — but the way the GOP dragged them out to drum up sympathy for the oil industry rubbed me the wrong way. Does the GOP have a valid argument here — that the offshore drilling moratorium is ruining what little economy they have left — or was it just a bunch of theater?
