'It is time that we establish a comprehensive approach to the use of dispersants'
Two New York Democrats introduced legislation last week that would bar the use of the kind of chemical dispersants used to break up the massive BP oil spill last year, at least until the Environmental Protection Agency determines whether they are safe.
View full sizeA dispersant plane was photographed April 27, 2010, passing an oil skimmer working to clean the Gulf of Mexico oil leak."We cannot use the Gulf of Mexico or anywhere else that suffers an oil spill as testing grounds for little-known toxic chemicals," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who sponsored the bill along with Rep. Timothy Bishop. "It is time that we establish a comprehensive approach to the use of dispersants if we are to protect the health of people, fisheries, marine mammals and their habitats."
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1406. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.450.1404.