Fine the Companies, Raise the Requirements!

The most common pollutant in the ocean is oil. Oil spills are tragic disasters that kill millions of species of marine animals, because governments have not taken the steps to prevent spills fast enough, they are stuck with more recovery and cleanup in the long run.

BOP's, or blowout preventers, guard the mouth of wells and are intended to stop the accidental release of oil. The problem?

  • They repeatedly break down
  • In the past 5 years more than 14 oil rigs have had malfunctions due to faulty BOP's
  • This is due to testing requirements being weakened.

Unfortunately folks, this is not all. If companies were actually severely punished, they would make sure this did not happen again.

  • Many times companies receive no repercussions
  • Oil companies have been fined for only 7 spills even though 4,123 have occurred over 11 years
  • Total fines from spills in the years 2000-2011 was only 74,000 pounds (about 124,000 U.S. dollars

Let's put an end to this! Testing requirements for BOP's must be raised, and companies need to be fined for what they are doing! Join the cause.

Dear North Carolina General Assembly,


My name is Marissa Jennings, and I am a senior at Myers Park High School. I am in the midst of completing my senior exit project. The topic I chose was "Government Prevention of Oil Spills." I am an environmentally conscientious person, and I was appalled at some of the things I discovered once I began my research.


I generated an informational pamphlet and handed it out to people in my community, to help raise some awareness. Many people I talked with felt very gratified that something was being done about a serious subject that does not get enough attention. People do want to see something being done about this issue. Then, with the research backing me up, I created this petition.


Companies should not get away without repercussions when they spill. Otherwise, there is no hindrance for a repeated offense. Many times companies receive no repercussions. Oil companies have been fined for only 7 spills even though 4,123 have occurred over 11 years in the North Sea. The total fines from spills in the years 2000-2011 was only 74,000 pounds (about 124,000 U.S. dollars).


 Additionally, testing requirements on oil rig equipment, mainly blowout preventers, need to be raised. BOP's, or blowout preventers, guard the mouth of wells and are intended to stop the accidental release of oil. Unfortunately, they repeatedly break down, In the past 5 years more than 14 oil rigs have had malfunctions due to faulty BOP's, and this is due to testing requirements being weakened.


Thank you so much for taking your time to read and consider this petition.


Sincerely,


Marissa Jennings

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