Maggie's Farm

Tom Francis ,,, Aha -- another oil field friend out here among Maggies' commenters. Immediately after the well blow-out, the Wall St. Journal had mentioned the acoustic choke or actuator as an effective safety device, but I had been unable to determine whether BP had installed one of those as a 'last resort' safety device. Evidently the MMS allowed them not to install one. Another mistake, this time a Baddie. The Wall Street Journal has two or three articles this morning about the present state of control [or non-control] of this disaster.

I have been troubled by Fox News' mis-statements about the ultimate safety solution -- the relief well or wells. Because they would not be completed until August, the media have been quite scornful about their effectiveness. And then they drone on about the well leaking and soiling our Gulf coast for years. Rubbish. Relief wells have been an effective solution to underwater well leaks for many years, as you, my friend, know. Sure, they take awhile to finish and put into action. But August is looking closer all the time, and it certainly isn't "years" away.

The other thing that has not been covered is the fact that this well is producing "light, sweet crude" which contains many elements which are volatile and will disperse by themselves into the atmosphere. The Prince William Sound tanker leak held 30-weight "heavy" crude, loaded with asphalt and other persistent elements. It was probably far tougher to clean up after than this spill will be.

These comments are partially from my husband, Downs Matthews, the official historian of the Exxon Valdez spill, as well as from me, the Historian's Wife, who missed him during the many months he was up in Alaska.

Just a tip, my friends ... if an oil soaked bird, or a sea otter waddles up to you and says "help me," the Valdez workers found that Dawn detergent was the best, most effective cleanser of feathers and fur. Sea Otters are powerful animals -- weigh about 70 pounds and can get cranky when handled. They really liked their daily lobster feedings, however, and many refused to leave after cleaning and feeding. Little piggies, they were.

Marianne

Yes, Tom Francis, it is. He is a wonderful writer and photographer and was Editor of the magazine Exxon USA for many years. Once he 'retired,' he began freelancing, and has since visited and photographed wild-life in more than twenty countries throughout the world, including both the High Arctic, Russia and Antarctica. He has slowed down some since he turned 85 this year, but he still goes on photo-safaris.

Marianne