The Gulf Oil Spill and National Marine Sanctuaries

Abstract:     
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon platform is certainly generating liability for BP. While most attention to date has focused on the role of the federal Oil Pollution Act, BP's oil spill has already threatened, and will likely eventually impact, the two national marine sanctuaries in the Gulf: the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off of Texas, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

This short article explores the threat that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill poses to these two sanctuaries and the liability that will arise for BP under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act should oil eventually damage sanctuary resources.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 5

Keywords: Gulf of Mexico, Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon, BP, National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Keys, Flower Garden Banks, Coral

Accepted Paper Series