Evening Buzz: BP Test Preps Underway
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight we're tracking the high-stakes undersea effort that could finally stop the Gulf oil leak. Prep work is underway for crucial "integrity tests" that will determine whether a new containment cap on the broken well will stop the leak. Anderson will have latest from the Gulf.
The federal government gave the green light for the pressure tests this afternoon after they were put off on Tuesday.
"It was advisable to take a 24 hour break, to make sure we were getting this absolutely right, and understand the best way to deal with the unknown quantity, which was the condition of the well bore and the casings, moving forward, and now, we're prepared to do that," said Ret. Adm. Thad Allen, who's heading the government's response, at a news conference just a couple hours ago.
We'll also tell you about some four-legged victims of the spill. That's the family pets who are being given up by their owners, because they can't afford to care from the anymore. We'll tell you how you can help them.
Plus, we continue to 'keep them honest' in Haiti, six months after the quake. We've been telling you about custom problems at Haiti's port. Non-government officials (NGOs) tell us emergency equipment and other supplies arrive, but get stuck waiting to clear customs. NGOs saying they're being charged thousands of dollars in storage fees, on top of custom taxes. Today 360's Gary Tuchman tracked down Haiti's Director of Customs to ask him about the delays.
See you at 10 p.m. ET.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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BP took away the peace of mind of many families. My feeling is: They should restore that piece of mind. Where be it a bag of dog or cat food, or if somebody needs Mental Heath care. That is BP's responsibility at this point in the disaster. Thy have stepped up to the plate (sort-of). I want to see an Advertisement/ or News article on TV that states what aid they are willing to provide to those affected.
Dear Anderson Cooper:'
Re: your article tonight about the plight of the dogs and the oil spill. There is an organization in your country called "Dog Town", and they are a very large organization, and I am sure if you contacted them, they would actually arrange to pick up most if not all of those dogs and look after them, and arrange for them to be adopted into new homes........Thankyou You have a great show, keep it up!
I had a question about the 3 Valves that will eventually be closed based on if and how much pressure they can hold and withstand. And maybe BP Engineers already thought about this.....can each Valve be treated with a high pressure line that leads to the tankers above. This way, you would install 1 line on each of the 3 valves and instead of sealing them permanently, due to the high possibility the pressure will cause them to burst, that you would instead, feed lines to the surface to waiting tankers. This way, the valves are never 100% closed but the high pressure lines can feed up 1 mile to a tanker. Is this an idea that has been posited?
Glen and Ernesto Salcedo (father and son)
Los Angeles, California
Anderson, while I respect you as a journalist, you are absolutely wrong for using your program to demand anything of BP! Night after night you use your program to talk about how BP isn't talking to you or giving a play by play commentary on what they are doing. The fact is, if they did... you and every other news program would have something to say negative about that... as you disect their every word! This is a a disaster, but what you are doing is vindicative, wrong and a platform for senators and congressman to release stupid statements about the letters they sent to BP. They are trying to get votes and you are trying to get ratings and its unfair! I watch your show everyday, because I respect your intentions. But this has gone too far! BP doesn't owe you anything. They're are obviously trying everything they can to fix the problem. And since they have already agreed to give 20 billion before the first Judge required them to, they at least deserve respect. Stop trying to hype up the public and stick to simply reporting the news. You are now attempting to shape the news and that ISN'T something anyone affiliated with CNN should be doing!
I wonder how Dick Cheney can have heat surgery since it seems to me at least that he has NO heart!
Margaret Green from Natchez MS, I have been emailing since daone...voted for Obama...really can't believe that the Federal Gov't has not stepped up to the bat. Thank God for Anderson Cooper...I went to Orange Beach AL last week for 10 days and swam in the oil....Anderson you rock...and of course James Carville you rock...the Federal Gov't pay attention,,,the rigs are leaving......
Anderson,
I have to say I'm a bit nervous when I heard you say the words "cracks in the sea floor" would you please expand upon the concern about cracks in the sea floor. Is this a concern because of the explosive rupture of this event or the pressure of the closing of the valves?
Levi & Bristol , so nice...;-))
Anderson; I have a question for you. This system is under the sea which is salt water. Is it resonalbe to assume there will be corrosion in the future? Even if they do succede in capping this well , how far innto the future are we safe from it? thanks
BP does not want anyone to know what is going on until they have time to prepare a respnse that protects them as much as possible. They gain nothing by keeping us informed. What is totally incomprehensible is WHY our government continues to allow them to do as they please.
Gary's report and interview of the customs director ought to be very interesting – especially if the customs official can justify what they are charging. I doubt he can. Not in a disaster recovery like this.
I hope 360 has inquired about being able to show on the tape the various tests of the new cap so those of us watching can see if it looks like the flow diminishes as they close each vent. I remember when the space race was going on and they would have tests – they would show some of them on the news and explain what they were doing to test it and what it was showing – a step by step lesson so to speak. Really helped to understand things and I think this would too – we are all hoping the tests show the new cap can contain the flow and no more oil will flow into the Gulf to be cleaned up. Looking forward to the show – sounds like its packed with stories tonight.