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Regular Session, 2010
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 180
BY SENATOR ADLEY
LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS. Requests the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on
Homeland Security to receive proposals on stopping the Deepwater Horizon oil leak and on
the cleanup of such leak, and to forward such proposals to the appropriate state agency for
analysis.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security to2
receive proposals on stopping the Deepwater Horizon oil leak and on the cleanup of3
such leak, and to forward such proposals to the appropriate state agency for analysis.4
WHEREAS, some fifty miles off the Louisiana coast, the Deepwater Horizon drilling5
rig experienced a massive and deadly explosion and fire on April 20, 2010, that resulted in6
eleven deaths, before sinking and leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico; and7
WHEREAS, it is estimated that over seventy-five million gallons of oil have already8
leaked into the Gulf of Mexico, far exceeding the eleven million gallons of oil that resulted9
from the Exxon Valdez disaster; and10
WHEREAS, the Deepwater Horizon oil leak is the worst oil leak in Louisiana and11
United States history and is the worst environmental disaster the United States has faced; and12
WHEREAS, in response to the oil leak, British Petroleum ("BP") has tried for over13
fifty days to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico; and14
WHEREAS, BP has tried to stop the oil by using: (1) a containment dome to cover15
the leak and funnel the oil to the surface, which was unsuccessful, (2) an insertion tube to16
pump oil to the surface, which at best appears to be capturing only about twenty percent of17
the oil, (3) the "top kill" method in which viscous drilling fluid is pumped into the leak,18 SR NO. 180
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which was unsuccessful, and (4) the lower marine riser package cap containment system,1
which required cutting off the damaged riser pipe at the top of the failed blow-out preventer,2
and this procedure has been successful to some degree but it has not completely stopped the3
leak; and4
WHEREAS, the efforts of BP have thus far failed to protect the Gulf Coast,5
especially the coastline, marshes, and estuaries of Louisiana, and its citizens and businesses,6
and has resulted in an economic crisis for this state, its citizens and businesses; and7
WHEREAS, BP has established a phone number to allow citizens to submit8
alternative response technology, services, products or ideas for the oil leak; and9
WHEREAS, BP has received over sixty-six thousand phone calls and another ten10
thousand e-mails with ideas on stopping the oil leak and enhancing cleanup operations; and11
WHEREAS, after hearing complaints that BP was not responding to solicitations, the12
federal government established its own "suggestion box"; and13
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard's Research and Development Center is14
now tasked with the duty to gather and disseminate ideas about dealing with the oil leak and15
cleanup; and16
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard receives the idea and then decides which17
federal agency is best able to analyze the idea; and18
WHEREAS, BP is working with the United States Coast Guard in sorting through19
all ideas received by either of them; and20
WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency21
Preparedness has established a separate "idea" pipeline at the Business Emergency22
Operations Center housed at Louisiana State University to receive ideas for easing the oil23
crisis; and24
WHEREAS, constituents and businesses are also sending ideas and suggestions on25
a daily basis to members of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana; and26
WHEREAS, delays in considering and testing ideas that could prove valuable in27
cleanup and prevention of further harm have resulted in widespread frustration and anger;28
and29
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to assist30 SR NO. 180
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in the consideration and testing of potentially valuable ideas and suggestions.1
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana2
does hereby request the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security to3
receive proposals on stopping the Deepwater Horizon oil leak and on the cleanup of such4
leak, and to forward such proposals to the appropriate state agency for analysis.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman is authorized to request such6
assistance as may be deemed necessary from entities in the legislative branch, including the7
Legislative Resource Center which has been activated, entities in the executive branch of8
state government, and institutions of higher education to analyze any submitted proposals.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the10
chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security.11
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by J. W. Wiley.
DIGEST
Adley SR No.
Requests the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security to receive
proposals on stopping the Deepwater Horizon oil leak and on the cleanup of such leak, and
to forward such proposals to the appropriate state agency for analysis.