So, I was talking to some conservative relatives earlier this evening. They argued that Obama's response to the BP geyser has been worse than Bush's response to Katrina. Specifically, they wanted to know why he hadn't waived the Jones act and allowed foreign oil skimmers to operate in the Gulf.
So, I began my research. I don't have the patience to tease out how many miles of boom or how much dispersant, or how many volunteer crews were mobilized in the Gulf, but I did learn that the Jones act could easily be interpreted as not applying to vessels that skim spilled oil.
http://keithhennessey.com/2010/06/18/how-to-waive-the-jones-act/
My relatives specifically mentioned the A-Wale. I learned that this ship has not been rejected, but that it is waiting to clear bureaucratic hurdles, and that BP has said it needs a waiver from the Jones act.
Here is my question, who owns the oil skimmed from the gulf? Logic would suggest to me that whoever skims it should get it. It was floating in the water after all. But the need for the A-Wale to enter into a contract with BP suggests that
BP still owns the oil. can anyone here clarify?
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