Re: [Paddlewise] Oil spills

Does anyone know anything about bacteria that consume oil?
I've heard two people who think bacteria will break down the oil
in reasonable time. Is there any scientific basis for this hope?

Brad Crain

Dave Kruger wrote:

> Tord's comments about the variation in biological breakdown of oil trapped 
> in sediments are accurate, far as I know.  Warmer climes resolve oil much 
> faster than cold ones.  The finding of oil residues in Prince William 
> Sound Is thus not surprising.  For more on the remediation of that spill, 
> go here: 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill#Cleanup_measures_and_environmental_consequences
>
> As might be expected, much was learned about tackling big oil spills from 
> that 1989 event.  Locally, there were many folks whose livelihood was 
> wiped out when the seine salmon fishery died in those areas of PWS (and a 
> few other places, as well).  The settlement payout, which came down within 
> the last year or so, turned out to be pennies on the dollar, after the 
> legal system was done with it.  A substantial fraction of the aggrieved 
> died waiting for the payout.  You don't find any Astoria salmon fishermen 
> who look kindly on big oil.
>
> This is a sad event, yet an inevitable one, given the enormous number of 
> offshore rigs.
>
> -- 
> Dave Kruger
> Astoria, OR
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************