Senator Markey, Chairman of the Subcommitte on Energy and the Environment is very astute in making the government hold BP responsible for the damage to the lands and waters of the USA.

Representative Markey brought the cameras to the public, which included the scientific community.  It was the smartest thing he could have done. 

Representative Markey is a very smart man and we are lucky to have him.  He is taking information at hearings and making it matter.  He stated the work at the FDA was incomplete as they were testing the substances in the Gulf Coast Seafood was based upon the standards of a 176 pound male.  He stated to the FDA representative at the hearing that it was not acceptable to allow the most vulnerable, women and children, to be exposed to possible dangers that a 176 pound male might not.

Rep. Markey is an interesting man.  He uses the icon "BP" in several different methods to help people understand how disappointed the USA is in the performance of their payments to the citizens involved in this tragedy.

He stated BP does not mean "Be Prepared," or "Bills Paid." 

The facts are there is significant damage to the USA and its seafood industry.  To the extent is still unknown.  For the USA consumer to completely state, "We trust the seafood on our menu." is premature and that is a fact. 

There are some areas of the fisheries that simply need to be closed and there are other areas that need to be marked as opened and monitored on a daily basis.  Water moves and we know now the oil at the bottom of the Gulf is moving through a report by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

What is paramount as obvious to me is getting the oil of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  I can't help but wonder if the water purifying machine developed by Kevin Kostner's Company won't help or be adapted to help.  The water in question is dually contaminated with oil/methane and dispersants.  Can the water purification process by Mr. Kostner's machine be adapted to separate the oil that is adhered to dispersants?  And can there be a 'suction system' that would deliver the 'contaminated deep water' to surface areas where these machines can harvest the contaminated waters and purify it?

I appreciate the work of the Subcommittee and I deeply appreciate the interest and compassion shown Americans by Rep. Markey.
BP oil leak victims face strings on $20bn spill fund  (click title to entry - thank you)
Victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will waive their right to sue BP staff and the energy major if they take money from the official $20bn (£13bn) compensation fund.
 
...However, final settlements to be decided later on in the year are likely to include clauses that prohibit recipients of compensation from launching further lawsuits....
 
The only criticism I have regarding this issue is that claimants should be told ahead of time as to what their settlement will be in order to decide whether they want to accept that or sue independantly. 

There is also the issue that fishermen adapted their boats to deploy skimmers and boom and they were paid for that employment.  That was a legitimate action by BP to compensate the fishermen with purposeful employment and monies.  If BP hadn't felt the need to provide that opportunity the dangers to the inland waters might be greater.  I believe while BP does want to exit the problem of balancing the cost of this disaster to their income and company viability, they haven't been completely negligent 'after the fact.'  That has to count for something no matter how aggrieved that value might be.  People cannot 'take advantage' of this disaster to compensate for 'pain and suffering.'  It has to be realized that while people lost income and that is important there is also 'emotional damage' to these people as well that need to be considered.
 
The payroll to this dispersement of monies is being paid by the Trust Fund and therefore the claimants should not feel as though they are victims to a process more powerful than they are. 
 
If the FDA is measuring dangerous elements and compounds and mixtures in the American diet by the effect on a 176 male, then that needs to be discarded as competent and 'models' adapted that truly reflect effects on men, women and children. 
 
The response by the scientific community in regard to this disaster has been remarkable.  There can be nothing said that diminishes their commitment to protect the waters of this country and the people that live around and with those waters.  I am impressed at the dedication of this community in its response to this disaster.  It has been remarkable.