Guidelines Encourage Indonesian Legal Due Sea Pollution

The Indonesian government encourages the legal guidelines for countries in dealing with the case of marine pollution.
Pollution from exploration and exploitation of offshore oil rig related responsibilities and compensation.
"Indonesia's fight for the interest on a global level, because Indonesia is very concerned the regulation given the potential for accidents at sea due to the oil spill is large enough with Indonesia's vast marine territory," said Director General of Legal Affairs and International Treaties Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justice Linggawaty.
Linggawaty express it in the Second International Conference on Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Transboundary from Exploration and Exploitation of Offshore Oil, in Jimbaran, Badung regency, Bali, on Wednesday (21/11).
According to him, since two years ago, has proposed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to make international conventions related to the problem. However, these efforts did not go smoothly because many countries are not willing to make that deal.
Thus further Linga, IMO recommends to make a guide or a model law that it is the input of some States Parties on elements that can be incorporated into the proposal.
The second conference was attended by 12 countries represented not only on behalf of the government but also by the business community, legal experts, non-governmental organizations, and academia.
"We expect other than the position of the country as well as experts to give their views," said Linggawaty.
The conference resulted in the decision would not be binding but produce recommendations that will be taken in the IMO Legal Committee hearing in April 2013.
Deputy Transportation Minister Bambang Susantono said Indonesia is very concerned with the consensus guidelines in order to become stronger given the potential and the strategic position of Indonesia.
"In the process not all countries agree, but at least we want to start that this should be addressed, especially for the island nation. We are very concerned because nearly 70% of Indonesia is water," he said




To the participants, Bambang said the six basic elements that can be discussed at the meeting include the implications of the international law and policy of each country, the rights and obligations of the sea from pollution liability, claims and of procedures, the basic principle is the reference together, compensatory mechanisms, as well as the instruments from the effects of pollution such as fishermen and the environment.
The existence of the conference was considered very important to remember not put emphasis on the value of compensation per se, but rather the impact of marine pollution and damage caused peraiaran ecosystem.
Several incidents of marine pollution caused by oil spills have occurred in Indonesia and other countries such as the incident on the Montara platform in the Timor Sea, which until now is still running and the process of negotiations on the bridge Mocondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico.

Behavior Oil in the Sea

Hydrocarbon compounds contained in petroleum form benzene, touleuna, ethylbenzen, and xylene isomers, known as BTEX, are a major component in petroleum, are mutagenic and carcinogenic in humans. These compounds are recalcitrant, which means tough a remodeled in nature, both in water and on land, so it will be process biomagnetion on fish or on other marine life. When the aromatic compounds into the blood, will be absorbed by fat tissue and will undergo oxidation in the liver to form phenol, then the next process is to form a compound conjugation reaction glucuride soluble in water, then into the kidneys.
When oil into the marine environment, the oil will soon undergo physical and chemical changes. Diantaran process is to form a layer (slick formation), spread (dissolution), evaporated (evaporation), polymerase (polymerization), emulsification (emulsification), water-in-oil emulsion (water in oil emulsions), oil-in-water emulsion (oil in water emulsions), fotooksida, mikorba biodegradation, sedimentation, digested by Planton and clot formation ter (Mukhstasor, 2007)
Almost all oil spills in the marine environment can immediately form a thin layer on the surface. This is because the oil is driven by the movement of wind, waves and currents, in addition to the force of gravity and surface tension. Some oils are volatile hydrocarbons, and quickly evaporates. The process of distributing the oil will spread into a thin layer and the evaporation rate increases.
Partial loss of volatile material makes the oil more solid / heavy and make it sink. Hydrocarbon components are dissolved in sea water, will make a thicker layer and attached, and the turbulence of water will cause the water-in-oil emulsion or oil in water. When it all happened, photochemical reactions can alter the character of the oil and will be biodegraded by microbes that will reduce the amount of oil.
The process of forming a layer of oil so quickly, coupled with the evaporation of components and deployment of hydrocarbon components will reduce the volume of the spill as much as 50% over the first few days since the oil spill. Refinery products, such as gasoline or kerosene almost all gone, instead of crude oil with a high viscosity only experienced a reduction of less than 25%.

Conclusion:

The case of marine pollution resulting from oil spills can affect several sectors, including coastal and marine environment, coastal ecosystems and marine biota, and interfere with fishing activities that affect their welfare. Influences, among others, can alter the characteristics of species populations and community structure of marine ecology, can interfere with the process of development and growth and reproduction of marine organisms, it can even cause death in marine organisms.

Oil effect on marine communities.

The oil spill that occurred in the ocean is divided into two types, water-soluble oils and will float on the surface of the water and the oil sink and accumulate in the sediment as a black deposit on the sand and rocks on the beach. The oil floats on the surface of the water can cause the water certainly is black and will disrupt organisms residing on the surface of the waters, and it will reduce the intensity of sunlight that will be used by phytoplankton to photosynthesize and can break the food chain in the area, if it so happens, it will directly reduce the rate of primary productivity in the area due to inhibition of phytoplankton photosynthesis.
While the oil sink and accumulate in the sediment as a black deposit on the sand and rocks on the beach, would interfere with interstitial or organime intertidal organisms, intertidal organisms are organisms whose lives are in tidal areas, the effect is that when the oil is up to the shoreline, the organisms are susceptible to oil such as crabs, amenon, molluscs and others will experience growth retardation, even death. But in the intertidal area, although initially very severe impact such as death and loss of species, oil spill cleanup will rapidly develop naturally due to the tidal area can generally be recovered quickly as a wave of cleaning oil-contaminated areas very quickly. While at that interstitial organisms, organisms that inhabit a very narrow space between the grains of sand would be affected as well, as the oils will accumulate in the bottom waters and terendap like sand and rocks, and this will influence the behavior, reproduction, and growth and development of animals that inhabit this area as policaeta worms, rotifers, crustaceans and other organisms.

Waste Marine Pollution by Ships

Marine pollution for the umpteenth time that happened in the waters around the island of Batam Riau Islands. Clumps of oil are not just floating close above sea level, but some washed up littering the beach. Local community life disturbed. These events are also increasingly troublesome Riau Islands Government. Because the case of marine pollution, not just once or twice but it's happened many times, and almost countless. "Imagine something like this has happened since I was a kid until now," said a local government official.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to trace the source of pollution, though widely expected, the possibility of oil spills from ships in the waters of neighboring Singapore, and carried by ocean currents to the waters of Batam Island. The incident, the Government intends Riau Islands sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment, for the matter investigated thoroughly. "If necessary, the case of marine pollution as this was brought to the International Court, because the impact is very disturbing" said a source in the Riau provincial government.
However, according to sources Kementeriani Environmental pollution causes up to now unknown. Party Singapore was contacted, but they claimed not to know anything about the source of pollution. Therefore, for the time being to do is to increase surveillance in the waters around the island of Batam, which works together with the TNI Navy.
Indeed, marine pollution by oil spills and other wastes not only in Batam, but also in several other Indonesian waters. In the waters of Jakarta Bay, for example, crude oil spills and other types of waste amounted to hundreds of sacks. That was not all waste managed successfully removed from the sea. Several years ago, the waters Cilacap also suffered severe pollution due to oil spill from a tanker that sank off the coast of Port Cilacap.
If you look at the development of activities in the marine waters of Indonesia, it is estimated that marine pollution, both by the oil spill dal variety of waste will increase. In general, sources of marine pollution by oil spills sourced oil transportation activities, offshore oil drilling, oil refining and fuel consumption of petroleum products. Cause, could be due to deliberate or accidental, such as plumbing leaks or oil drilling ship sinking oil tankers. But whatever the cause, the oil spill polluting the ocean in the end negatively affect marine organisms. Oil polluted ocean could threaten the lives of several species of birds, and aquatic organisms beaches, such as various kinds of fish, coral reefs, mangrove forests and the destruction of coastal tourism. The oil spill will also prevent / reduce transmission of sunlight into the sea water because it is absorbed by the oil and is reflected back into the air.

Countermeasures

Marine pollution prevention, especially in the waters of Indonesia, both from ships and non-vessel such as, ports, oil and gas platforms, and others are regulated nationally and internationally. At the national level, the provisions concerning, among other things set dalamUndang Law No. 17 of 2008 on Shipping, Presidential Regulation. 109/2006 on Oil Spill Emergency Response at Sea, which include managing the organization at the national, regional and industry / oil and gas. While at the international level, among other issues arranged in 82 of UNCLOS, the IMO Convention, MARPOL Convention 73/78, and the CLC.
In other words, from a legal aspect is already sufficient. But in practice seems still needs improvement. The root cause, rather than on technical mastery and procedures are not running as they should, but in terms of inter-agency coordination and synergy that has not been maximized.
In response to marine pollution, both parties tend to their own ways. If it is able to coordinate and carry out joint measures also tend to slow. In the case of pollution from oil drilling in the East Pass, for example, the incident occurred in August 2009. Coordination among agencies and departments has been running in December and until January 2010, there has been no definitive action as it is awaiting the results of the research to be carried out by one of the department. Similarly, in the prevention of marine pollution on the island of Batam.
This is the portrait of prevention of marine pollution in the country. In terms of fact, pursuant to Presidential Decree (Decree) on Emergency Response Oil Spill Sea related interdepartmental involvement is needed. In order for the oil spill can run integrative. The involvement of various government agencies is necessary because of the impact of the oil spill was extensive.
Oil spill can actually be done by forming a kind of administrators (executing agency) to handle the kind of oil spill National Contency Plan (NCP). Or in one case involving various agencies / departments permanently.
According to some sources, it is said Pertamina already has 54 systems Emergency Response Oil Spill Response Tier. But management is still local and based on the technical needs of the new formation, not through assessment (assessment) deep.
The impact of existing conditions that would surely feel when entering the post-localization stage of the spill. In this stage begin to count the losses suffered by all parties that occur due to pollution. Also, how much damage will be calculated to be paid by the owner of the vessel in accordance with regulations in force. Especially estimating damage to the environment and the economic life of the people who depend on the ocean in the vicinity. In fact, all steps should have to run simultaneously

Robot Fish Fight Marine Pollution

If you see this fish, we would think it was a toy. In fact, the carp is a length of 1.5 meters is a robot that can fight pollution in the sea.

Sinister-looking and fierce robot has sensors to detect chemical and chemical fuel ships in the water. With these sensors, the robot fish will herd anything of pollution of the sea and send it through the transmitter to be investigated.

Robot fish love the environment is designed to explore the sea within a few months, and is expected to prevent the spread of pollution by tracking the source directly. Through the discovery of marine pollution is expected to at least be mitigated

Robot designed by professor Huosheng Hu and his team from the University of Essex, UK is apparently powered by a battery and can last for 8 hours without driven by remote controle.

The price is very expensive robot that is 20,000 pounds per unit. Currently a team of robot makers are still perfecting the sound generated in order not to interfere with other ocean dwellers

Know the Marine Pollution

Later we read of marine pollution incident. Various parties complained of any threat to the environment. Some blame the industry are less concerned, others say only procedural errors, others believe all have the potential to pollute the sea. Following further discussion about the ins and outs of marine pollution.
Marine pollution is defined as the entry event of chemical particles, industrial waste, agricultural and housing, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms (foreign) into the sea, which is potentially harmful effects.
In the case of pollution, many harmful chemicals in the form of small particles which are then taken by plankton and animal basis, most of which are degrading or filter feeder (water filter). In this way, the toxins are concentrated in the ocean entry into the food chain, the longer the chain of contamination, the greater the possibility of toxicity stored. In many other cases, many of these chemical particles react with oxygen, causing the waters become anoxic.
Most sources of marine pollution comes from land, either windblown, drifting or through spills. Here are some sources of pollutants into the sea.
Ship exhaustShips can pollute rivers and oceans in many ways. Among other through oil spills, air filter and fuel residues. Pollution from ships can pollute ports, waterways and oceans. Ships also create noise pollution that interferes with the natural wildlife, and water from ballast tanks can spread the algae / algae and harmful alien species can affect the local ecosystem.
One of the worst cases of a single invasive species causing harm to an ecosystem, a seemingly harmless one of them is a jellyfish. Mnemiopsis leidyi, a species of jellyfish that spread so it now inhabits estuaries in many parts of the world.
First discovered in 1982, and is thought to have been brought to the Black Sea in a ship ballast water. Jellyfish population soared exponentially, and in 1988, it was wreaking havoc upon the local fishing industry.
PlasticPlastic has become a global problem. Plastic trash discarded, and terendap floating in the ocean. 80% (Eighty percent) of garbage in the ocean is plastic, a component that has been rapidly accumulating since the end of World War II. The mass of plastic in the ocean is estimated that accumulate up to one hundred million metric tons.
Plastics and other derivatives of the plastic waste in the ocean are dangerous to wildlife and fisheries. Aquatic organisms may be at risk from tangled, shortness of breath, and inedible.
Fishing nets made of plastic, sometimes left or lost at sea. These nets are known as ghost nets are very dangerous to dolphins, turtles, sharks, dugongs, sea birds, crabs, and other creatures. Plastic that wraps restrict movement, causing injury and infection, and blocking of animals that need to return to the surface to breathe.
PoisonBesides plastic, there are certain problems with the toxins that are not destroyed quickly in the marine environment. Divided in two, the first group of toxins that tend to get continuous suafatnya such as pesticides, furans, dioxins and phenols. There is also a heavy metal, a metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. Examples of heavy metals are often pollute mercury, lead, nickel, arsenic and cadmium.
When pesticides get into the marine ecosystem, they are immediately absorbed into marine food webs. In jaringmakanan, these pesticides can cause mutations, and diseases, which can be harmful to marine animals, the whole making up the food chain, including humans.
Such toxins can accumulate in the tissue types of aquatic life in a process called bioaccumulation. These toxins are also known to accumulate in the bottom waters, such as estuaries and bay mud. These materials can cause mutations in the offspring of contaminated organisms and disease and mass death as happened in the case that occurred in Minamata Bay.
EutrophicationEutrophication is an increase in the incidence of events / enrichment of nutrients, typically compounds containing nitrogen or phosphorus, in an ecosystem. This can lead to increased primary productivity (marked increase in excessive plant growth and decay tend to quickly). Further effects include decreased oxygen levels, decreased water quality, and of course disturb the stability of the populations of other organisms.
Estuary is the region most vulnerable to eutrophication due to nutrients derived from the soil will be concentrated. These nutrients are then carried by rain water into the marine environment, and tends to accumulate in the estuary.
The World Resources Institute has identified 375 hypoxic (lack of oxygen) in the coastal areas around the world. The report says these events are concentrated in coastal areas in Western Europe, East and South coast of the United States of America, and East Asia, especially in Japan. One example is the significant increase in red algae (red tide) that kill fish and marine mammals and cause respiratory problems in humans and some domestic animals. Generally occurs when the organism closer to the shore.
Increased acidityThe oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the usual atmosphere. Because atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise, the oceans are becoming more acidic. The potential for ocean acidification may affect the ability of corals and other shellfish to form shells or order.
Noise PollutionMarine life can be susceptible to noise or sound pollution from sources such as passing ships, oil exploration seismic surveys and naval sonar frequencies. Sound travels faster in the ocean than in the air.
Marine animals, such as whales, tend to have weak eyesight, and live in a world largely defined by acoustic information. This applies also to the many fish that live deeper in the world of darkness. It was reported that between 1950 and 1975, the ambient noise in the ocean increased by about ten decibels (has increased ten-fold).
It is clear now that the source of pollution varies greatly. Not only of the things we think can only be done by large industries, but can also be caused by our daily activities.

9 The International Guidelines Agreed Ask About Marine Pollution

Nine states follow international conference on liability and compensation for oil spills off the coast. They agreed to support submission to the international guidelines that can be used in solving this problem.
"All the participants from various countries agreed to continue this process. Goal we have international regulations related to this issue," said foreign ministry representatives, AKN Bebeb Djundjunan.
This was said after the ceremony Bebeb 'The Second International Conference On Liability and Compensation Regime for Transboundary Damage Resulting From Offshore Oil Exploration and Exploitation Activities' at the Intercontinental Hotel, Jalan Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Bali, Thursday (11/22/2012).
According Bebeb, 9 countries agree on regulatory issues that will be faced when marine pollution caused by offshore oil spills have involved two different states. Therefore, it is necessary that the guidelines could be used as a reference in solving the problem. The nine countries are Indonesia, Australia, Iraq, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Mexico.
"9 of States party to the conference supports the model of the principle that regulation exists, but when it comes to cross-border efforts that would bother us, because the relevant rules in other countries. States does not want to get involved responsible," said a senior Foreign Ministry diplomat this.
Bebeb found, the results of this conference will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to be used as guidelines in solving ocean pollution. The conference also identified the necessary elements included in the recommendation.
"This conference has identified the essential elements. Such obligations channel in claim, its organization, its mechanisms. Least we got a picture of it that we can use," he said.
According to him, most of Indonesia oceans are in need of any of these rules. There should be a rule that could legalize the impact of the damage was actually caused by the oil spill from the negligence of the operator and must be supported internationally.
"If anything happens how people want to be responsible, no pengaturannnya. Essentially, in principle, set in a fair and balanced against the interests of the parties who made a mistake that could be responsible, the aggrieved can get compensation,"

Marine Pollution "Threatening Potential Maritime Resources and Environment"

Marine pollution is an influx of material events such as particle chemical pollutants, industrial waste, agricultural waste and housing, into the sea, which can damage the marine environment. Hazardous material has a variety of effects in the waters. There are impacted directly or indirectly.
Most sources of marine pollution comes from land, either windblown, drifting or through spills. One of the causes of marine pollution is a ship that can pollute rivers and oceans in many ways. For example, through oil spills, air filter and fuel residues. Pollution from ships can pollute ports, waterways and oceans. Ships also create noise pollution that interferes with the lives of aquatic organisms, and water from ballast tanks that can affect the temperature of the water so as to disturb the comfort of the living organisms in the water.
Other marine pollutants that also adversely affect the waters are even plastic waste has become a global problem. Plastic trash discarded, and terendap floating in the ocean. Since the end of World War II, an estimated 80 percent of plastic waste accumulating in the ocean as a solid waste that disrupt marine ecosystems. The mass of plastic in the ocean is estimated that accumulate up to one hundred million metric tons. This condition is very bad influence, and very difficult to decompose by bacteria. Source of plastic waste in the ocean also derived from discarded fishing nets were intentionally left out in the bottom of the sea.
Chemical wastes that are toxic (poison) that goes into the ocean waters will cause very harmful effects. The group of chemical waste is divided into two, the first group of toxins that are likely to come in continuously like pesticides, furans, dioxins and phenols. There is also a heavy metal, a metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. Examples of heavy metals are often pollute mercury, lead, nickel, arsenic and cadmium.
When pesticides get into the marine ecosystem, they are immediately absorbed into marine food webs. In food webs, these pesticides can cause mutations, and diseases, which can be harmful to marine animals, the whole making up the food chain, including humans. Such toxins can accumulate in the tissue types of marine organisms known as bioaccumulation. These toxins are also known to accumulate in the bottom of the muddy waters. These materials can cause mutations in the offspring of contaminated organisms and disease and mass death as happened in the case that occurred in Minamata Bay.
Other inorganic chemicals that can be harmful to marine ecosystems are nitrogen and phosphorus. The source of this waste is generally derived from agricultural fertilizers rest drifted into the waters, as well as from household waste in the form of detergent that contains phosphorus. This chemical can cause eutrophication, because these compounds are nutrients for aquatic plants such as algae and phytoplankton. The high concentration of these materials causes the growth of aquatic plants will grow and will dominate the waters, so to disturb other organisms can even be deadly.
Estuary is the region most vulnerable to eutrophication due to nutrients derived from the soil will be concentrated. These nutrients are then carried by rain water into the marine environment, and tends to accumulate in the estuary. The World Resources Institute has identified 375 hypoxic (lack of oxygen) in the coastal areas around the world. The report says these events are concentrated in coastal areas in Western Europe, East and South coast of the United States of America, and East Asia, especially in Japan. One example is the significant increase in red algae (red tide) that kill fish and marine mammals and cause respiratory problems in humans and some domestic animals. Generally occurs when the organism closer to the shore.
The oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the usual atmosphere. Because atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise, the oceans are becoming more acidic. The potential for ocean acidification may affect the ability of corals and other shellfish to form shells or order. Marine life can be susceptible to noise or sound pollution from sources such as passing ships, oil exploration seismic surveys and naval sonar frequencies. Sound travels faster in the ocean than in the air.
Marine animals, such as whales, tend to have weak eyesight, and live in a world largely defined by acoustic information. This applies also to the many fish that live deeper in the world of darkness. It was reported that between 1950 and 1975, the ambient noise in the ocean increased by about ten decibels (has increased ten-fold). It is clear now that the source of pollution varies greatly. Not only of the things we think can only be done by large industries, but can also be caused by our daily aktiftas.

beach pollution as getting jumped sharply

A recent study found the level of pollution on the beaches of the United States experienced a sharp spike. This was stated by the U.S. Natural Resources Board in its annual report released on Wednesday (29/6).

The study involved data from 3,000 beaches across the U.S.. In a written report to the pollution of the coast until the end of 2010 increased by 29%. Waters in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan held the top position in the list of areas with high levels of contamination.

Meanwhile, 11% of all the beaches in California are reported to have elevated levels of bacterial contamination. They include Avalon Beach, Beach and Colorado Lagoon Cabrillon. This amount is the largest in five years, Friday (1/7).

Most bacterial contamination occurs during winter, when rain storms create channels and overloaded sewage systems and sewage flowing into the sea. Pollution can cause digestive problems, respiratory problems as well as various other diseases that could easily affect children and the elderly. For this reason, the authorities advised people not to swim in the rain, and 72 hours thereafter.

Gulf Coast States at Odds on Penalties for Oil Spill

NEW ORLEANS — With BP ’s agreement on Thursday to plead guilty to 14 criminal charges and pay $4.5 billion in fines and other payments in connection with its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Coast politicians are now eyeing a much bigger potential windfall from the company: $20 billion or more in civil pollution penalties for the spill. 

But the negotiations over those penalties — including which states get the money, how quickly, and what it can be used for — could be more contentious than the talks that led to the criminal settlement.

Officials with the Justice Department, who are leading the discussions, are not simply representing the federal government, but a number of other governments, including those of the five gulf states. And not only do some states have a different vision of a just settlement than federal officials do, they also disagree among one another. In some cases, leaders within a single state cannot agree on the best course of action.

All those differences have complicated progress toward a civil settlement, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions. On Thursday, both BP and the Justice Department said they intended to take the matter to trial in late February.

“Greed has always tripped up individuals and companies and states,” said Representative Jo Bonner, a Republican whose district includes the Alabama coastline. “We should be unified in holding the Department of Justice’s feet to the fire, just like they said they were holding BP’s feet to the fire.”

Under the criminal settlement, $2.4 billion paid by BP will go to environmental restoration, overseen by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit organization created by Congress. Projects in Louisiana will get half the money, and the rest will be split among the other gulf states — Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

There are two significant varieties of civil remedies to come from the spill: penalties under the Clean Water Act and claims under the Natural Resources Damage Assessment. A settlement would most likely include some payments through both mechanisms, though the difficult question is how much would be paid out under which one. And there is intense disagreement over which is preferable.

Under the Natural Resources Damage Assessment process, which arose out of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, state and federal agencies total the environmental harm caused by the spill and send the responsible party a bill. All the money is administered by federal agencies and must be spent on environmental recovery. And the penalties, which could run in the tens of billions of dollars in the BP case, are tax-deductible for the polluter.

Payments under this process are directly tied to environmental damages, so a related BP settlement would benefit Louisiana the most, since that state experienced and continues to experience the worst of the spill.

For this reason, Garret Graves, the chief coastal adviser to Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, said that pathway could be the most helpful for the coast. “Under N.R.D.A., 100 percent of the money goes to the gulf for recovery,” he said.

The drawback is that the assessment can take years, and must be arrived at through findings by different scientists, which can vary widely.

The Clean Water Act calls for a penalty based on the number of barrels spilled, with much higher damages to be awarded if the polluter is found to have been grossly negligent in causing the spill. In the past, the money from these penalties, which in the BP case could add up to $21 billion, would go to the United States Treasury.

But in June, Congress passed a law, called the Restore Act, which directed that four-fifths of the penalty money in the BP spill be divided up among the gulf states, to be spent mostly outside federal control.

The passage of the Restore Act required quite a bit of horse trading, particularly in a Congress not known for demonstrations of bipartisanship.

Senator Mary Landrieu, the Louisiana Democrat who was lead sponsor of the act, maintained that her state had felt the brunt of the spill, but she arrived at a compromise with other gulf state lawmakers. Of the money that goes to the gulf states, 35 percent would be divided evenly among them. About 30 percent of the funds would be divided based on the extent of damage, and another 30 percent would go to creating and carrying out a comprehensive master plan covering the entire Gulf Coast.