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WRT the Jones Act: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-jones-act/ http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-... "

WRT the Jones Act: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-jones-act/ http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-... "Q: Did Obama turn down foreign offers of assistance in cleaning up the Gulf oil spill? Did he refuse to waive Jones Act restrictions on foreign-flag vessels? A: No to both questions. So far, offers from six foreign countries or entities have been accepted and only one offer has been rejected. Fifteen foreign-flag vessels are working on the cleanup, and none required a waiver." WRT to the EPA being slow to waive regulations or allow state and local initiatives, they're doing their job to make sure the cure isn't worse than the disease. The sand berm idea for example has been panned by a lot of experts. I also have a friend at the EPS region 1 office who works in water quality and they are very skeptical that the berm idea will work but they're under political pressure to allow it. Ideas should be implemented because they're good ideas, not because under-educated politicians think it will make them look good.

hugh3 16y ago
(a) Why was the one offer rejected? (b) Might more offers have been made if the Jones act didn't exist? (c) Isn't it true that the fifteen foreign-flagged vessels working have nonetheless had to have their experienced foreign crews replaced with Americans due to the demands of the Jones Act? Also, don't they have to stay at least three miles offshore at all times?
- Anechoic 16y ago
  Might more offers have been made if the Jones act didn't exist? From the linked article: "In reality, the Jones Act has yet to be an issue in the response efforts. The Deepwater Horizon response team reported in a June 15 press release that there are 15 foreign flagged ships currently participating in the oil spill cleanup. None of them needed a waiver because the Jones Act does not apply. The Jones Act is a trade and commerce law that was enacted in 1920 as part of a larger Marine Merchant Act. It requires all trade delivered between U.S. ports to be carried in U.S. flagged vessels constructed in the United States and owned by American citizens. The law states its purpose is to develop a merchant marine for national defense and commerce." and "To date, 25 countries and four international organizations have offered support in the form of skimming vessels, containment and fire boom, technical assistance and response solutions, among others."
- jonathanwallace 16y ago
  Find the answers to (a) here. http://factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-jones-act/ http://factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-... I'd appreciate it if you could substantiate your allegations in (c) with a reference. Thanks.

hugh3 16y ago

(a) Why was the one offer rejected? (b) Might more offers have been made if the Jones act didn't exist? (c) Isn't it true that the fifteen foreign-flagged vessels working have nonetheless had to have their experienced foreign crews replaced with Americans due to the demands of the Jones Act? Also, don't they have to stay at least three miles offshore at all times?

Anechoic 16y ago
Might more offers have been made if the Jones act didn't exist? From the linked article: "In reality, the Jones Act has yet to be an issue in the response efforts. The Deepwater Horizon response team reported in a June 15 press release that there are 15 foreign flagged ships currently participating in the oil spill cleanup. None of them needed a waiver because the Jones Act does not apply. The Jones Act is a trade and commerce law that was enacted in 1920 as part of a larger Marine Merchant Act. It requires all trade delivered between U.S. ports to be carried in U.S. flagged vessels constructed in the United States and owned by American citizens. The law states its purpose is to develop a merchant marine for national defense and commerce." and "To date, 25 countries and four international organizations have offered support in the form of skimming vessels, containment and fire boom, technical assistance and response solutions, among others."
jonathanwallace 16y ago
Find the answers to (a) here. http://factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-jones-act/ http://factcheck.org/2010/06/oil-spill-foreign-help-and-the-... I'd appreciate it if you could substantiate your allegations in (c) with a reference. Thanks.