Oil Spills

by Tamara Thompson (Editor)

Overview

This book explores issues related to oil spills, including how spills happen, the risks of oil drilling, and if the oil industry needs more oversight and regulation. Editor Tamara Thompson has compiled a wide spectrum of primary sources written by many of the foremost authorities in their respective fields. This unique approach provides students with a concise view of divergent opinions on the issues of oil spills. Fact boxes summarize important information for researchers, and an extensive bibliography is included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737768817
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/04/2014
Series:	Current Controversies Series
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Foreword 13

Introduction 16

Chapter 1 How Do Oil Spills Happen?

Overview: The Science and History Behind Oil Spills Andrea Thompson 21

The Gulf Oil Spill Illustrates the. Special Risks of Deepwater Drilling Charles H. Peterson 28

Tar Sands Oil Makes Pipelines More Vulnerable to Spills Keith Schneider 34

The Biggest Oil Spill in History Was Deliberately Caused: Counterspill 39

Chapter 2 Is the Risk of a Spill Worth Drilling for Oil?

Americans Split on Energy vs. Environment Trade-Off Jeffrey M. Jones 44

Yes: The Risk of a Spill Is Worth Drilling for Oil

Offshore Drilling Remains a Risk Worth Taking Ronald Bailey 49

Despite Spills, More Oil Sands Pipelines Are Coming Christopher Helman 54

No: The Risk of a Spill Is Not Worth Drilling for Oil

More Oil Spills Grim Reminders of Needed Energy Revolution John Austin 63

What BP Doesn't Want You to Know About the 2010 Gulf Spill Mark Hertsgaard 66

The Economic Benefits of Arctic Oil Are Not Worth the Environmental Risk: Greenpeace International 80

Chapter 3 Is the Oil Industry Prepared to Handle Major Oil Spills?

Chapter Preface 86

Yes: The Oil Industry Is Prepared to Handle Major Oil Spills

The Oil Industry Is Committed to Spill Prevention and Response Chris Kahn 89

Cleaning Up Oil Spills With Magnets and Nanotechnology Tom Levitt 92

No: The Oil Industry Is Not Prepared to Handle Major Oil Spills

The Oil Industry Is Unprepared to Handle Spills in the Arctic Suzanne Goldenberg 95

Oil Companies Have Not Kept Up with the Latest Cleanup Technologies Chris Wickham 98

Chapter 4 Does the Oil Industry Need More Oversight and Regulation?

Overview: New US Oil Boom Puts Shale Fracking in the Spotlight Adam Hurlburt 104

Yes: The Oil Industry Needs More Oversight, and Regulation

Offshore Drilling Still Urgently Needs Reform: Center for Biological Diversity 111

Tar Sands Pipelines Are Not Sufficiently Regulated Anthony Swift Susan Casey-Lefkowitz Elizabeth Shope 117

Congress Should Reform Oil Spill Liability Laws Nicolas D. Loris Jack Spencer James Jay Carafano 127

No: The Oil Industry Does Not Need More Oversight and Regulation

Oil Industry Regulation Hurts the American Economy K.J. Webb 132

More Regulation Is Not the Answer to Oil Production Risks Gerald P. O'Driscoll 136

Organizations to Contact 140

Bibliography 148

Index 157