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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 180
BY SENATOR ADLEY
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request 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.
WHEREAS, some fifty miles off the Louisiana coast, the Deepwater Horizon drilling
rig experienced a massive and deadly explosion and fire on April 20, 2010, that resulted in
eleven deaths, before sinking and leaking oil into the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that over seventy-five million gallons of oil have already
leaked into the Gulf of Mexico, far exceeding the eleven million gallons of oil that resulted
from the Exxon Valdez disaster; and
WHEREAS, the Deepwater Horizon oil leak is the worst oil leak in Louisiana and
United States history and is the worst environmental disaster the United States has faced; and
WHEREAS, in response to the oil leak, British Petroleum ("BP") has tried for over
fifty days to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, BP has tried to stop the oil by using: (1) a containment dome to cover
the leak and funnel the oil to the surface, which was unsuccessful, (2) an insertion tube to
pump oil to the surface, which at best appears to be capturing only about twenty percent of
the oil, (3) the "top kill" method in which viscous drilling fluid is pumped into the leak,
which was unsuccessful, and (4) the lower marine riser package cap containment system,
which required cutting off the damaged riser pipe at the top of the failed blow-out preventer,
and this procedure has been successful to some degree but it has not completely stopped the
leak; and
WHEREAS, the efforts of BP have thus far failed to protect the Gulf Coast,
especially the coastline, marshes, and estuaries of Louisiana, and its citizens and businesses,
and has resulted in an economic crisis for this state, its citizens and businesses; and
WHEREAS, BP has established a phone number to allow citizens to submit
alternative response technology, services, products or ideas for the oil leak; and SR NO. 180 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, BP has received over sixty-six thousand phone calls and another ten
thousand e-mails with ideas on stopping the oil leak and enhancing cleanup operations; and
WHEREAS, after hearing complaints that BP was not responding to solicitations, the
federal government established its own "suggestion box"; and
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard's Research and Development Center is
now tasked with the duty to gather and disseminate ideas about dealing with the oil leak and
cleanup; and
WHEREAS, the United States Coast Guard receives the idea and then decides which
federal agency is best able to analyze the idea; and
WHEREAS, BP is working with the United States Coast Guard in sorting through
all ideas received by either of them; and
WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness has established a separate "idea" pipeline at the Business Emergency
Operations Center housed at Louisiana State University to receive ideas for easing the oil
crisis; and
WHEREAS, constituents and businesses are also sending ideas and suggestions on
a daily basis to members of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, delays in considering and testing ideas that could prove valuable in
cleanup and prevention of further harm have resulted in widespread frustration and anger;
and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to assist
in the consideration and testing of potentially valuable ideas and suggestions.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby request 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman is authorized to request such
assistance as may be deemed necessary from entities in the legislative branch, including the
Legislative Resource Center which has been activated, entities in the executive branch of
state government, and institutions of higher education to analyze any submitted proposals. SR NO. 180 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Homeland Security.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE