http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/04/bp-says-oil-spills-can-be-beneficial-to-nearby-economies.html
[I call 'shenanigans'. *BP* - after Macondo and many other spills which
have devastated local economies, ecosystems and people's health has
clearly detached from reality with this claim.]
BP says oil spills can be beneficial to nearby economies
07/04/2018
Newshub staff
BP has claimed nearby economies would benefit from a clean-up operation
if there were an oil spill at one of their sites.
The company used the argument as part of an application to drill in the
Great Australian Bight, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Many citizens were concerned about the possible impact of an oil spill
due to BP's less-than-perfect record following the 2010 spill in the
Gulf of Mexico.
To assuage concerns, BP argued a spill would be "socially acceptable"
and "in most instances, the increased activity associated with clean-up
operations will be a welcome boost to local economies".
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management
Authority wrote back, saying the claims needed to be removed or
supported by analysis. It also said the submission needed "significant
modification" and there were several environmental impacts that had not
been properly assessed.
BP decided not to follow through with its plans in November 2016 and
said the correspondence released to media was of a draft plan that would
have been revised.
"Given the project did not proceed, work on the draft environment plan
ceased, so the correspondence in question doesn't represent the final
views of BP or the regulator, " a spokesperson told The Sydney Morning
Herald.
The authority agreed, saying the plan had not been followed through and
BP did not drill in the bight.
Greenpeace senior campaigner Nathaniel Pelle said if any company were to
drill in the bight it could be disastrous.
"There is no way to drill for oil safely in the bight," he said.