A Sea in Flames - Carl Safina [168]
8 More than 27,000 abandoned wells J. Donn and Mitch Weiss, “Gulf Awash in 27,000 Abandoned Wells,” Associated Press, July 7, 2010; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38113914/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf.
9 The oil has everyone’s attention A. Revkin, “While Oil Gushes, Invisible Ocean Impacts Build,” Dot Earth blog, New York Times; http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/while-oil-gushes-invisible-ocean-impacts-build/.
10 The heart and lungs of the planet D. Smith, “Alarm at Speeding Sea Change,” Age (Melbourne, Australia), June 18, 2010; http://newsstore.theage.com.au/
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11 Science has just published a series J. Smith et al., “Changing Oceans,” Science 328, no. 5985, June 18, 2010: 1497.
12 Drawbacks of renewable energy sources, and “they don’t offer new services” “Scaling Up Alternative Energy,” special section of Science magazine 329, August 13, 2010: 779–803.
13 A CBS News/New York Times poll “Poll: Vast Majority Say U.S. Energy Policy Needs Major Changes,” CBCnews, June 21, 2010; http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008368-503544.html.
14 Gannets “BP Spill Threatens a Third of Canadian Gannets,” CBCnews, October 21, 2010; http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/10/21/nl-montevecchi-gannets-1021.html.
15 “oil everywhere” S. Davis, “La. Coast Hit by More Oil,” Advocate, September 25, 2010.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Mark Loehr’s herculean devotion to getting the story of what happened in the well and on the rig absolutely right has immensely benefitted both this book and me. As a researcher, he stands in a class of his own. I believe it is likely that for most of the summer Mark understood the totality of what happened to cause the blowout, the specific details of events, and the role of different personnel in the various companies better than any other single person, period. I could never have truly afforded him.
On the science side, John Angier was exceptionally generous, prompt, and entertainingly attuned to debunking hype and hysteria and setting records straight. I thank also William Semple for his expertise and insight.
Admiral Thad Allen, the national incident commander, and Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—neither of whom had time to spare and both of whom had much better things to do—generously gave me two hours of their time, during which they efficiently conveyed months of experience and years of wisdom.
In and around the Gulf region, I benefited from the generous assistance of the National Wildlife Federation’s Karla Raettig, Amanda Moore, Emily Guidry Schatzel, and Larry Schweiger.
Jo Billups, a singer and activist, was extremely generous in helping arrange my aerial perspective and in welcoming me into her home and community. I also thank filmmaker Bill Mills, Marion Laney, Frank Campo, Charlie Robin, Jeff Wolkart, James Fox, Gary Skinner, Reverend Chris Schansberg, and Julian MacQueen of the Hampton Inn in Pensacola Beach. George Brower graciously hosted me on my first night in New Orleans. I thank Campbell Robertson for introducing me to Oliver Houck. For other logistical assistance, I thank the Gulf Restoration Network, especially Jonathan Henderson. And photographer Jeffrey Dubinsky. Jennifer Godwin of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, near Tampa, told me about the gannets.
All season long, my understanding of the Gulf-wide picture benefitted greatly from the constant stream of reporting from the dedicated professional journalists at the New York Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Agence France-Presse, and elsewhere, whose importance to society is now so undervalued. If not for the news they uncover and deliver, there’d be little to huff about. I thank Connie