EPA in hot seat over oil dispersants

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - At one point during Thursday's Hearings into the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, the dispersants that are being used in the Gulf were referred to as the potential "Agent Orange of the Gulf."

BP has used millions of gallons of the chemical Corexit to break down the oil. The Environmental Protection Agency approved the chemical, but put limits on how much could be used. That's because the agent believes it does pose some risk.

"That's the scariest part of the whole deal," revealed Mobile native Casi Callaway "We have no idea what's gonna happen next."

The well is capped. Oil is no longer billowing into the Gulf. However, Callaway isn't remotely satisfied.

"The day we should be celebrating that they've capped the oil. We're just still looking at a plate full of questions," said Callaway.

The executive director of Mobile Baykeeper is questioning BP's use of dispersant to battle oil without extensive studies on its effects.

"We don't know whether or not the dispersant is going to affect small crabs, but not fish," explained Callaway. "The problem is, if we wipe out the crab population, we wipe out everything that feeds on the crabs."

Since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, BP has used nearly 1.8 million gallons of dispersant. In May, the EPA ordered BP to limit the use of dispersant, but Callaway said that's misleading.

"EPA also claims that the company has reduced their use, but they've reduced it by the one highest peak number they ever did; 70,000 gallons in one day. In reality, they've reduced it by seven to nine percent and that's it," explained Callaway.

Callaway is worried that much of the dispersed oil is heading towards our coast below the surface.

"Boom only works on the surface. So it makes our protection measures completely useless. That's our biggest concern on top of the long-lasting effects and the health and the toxic implications," Callaway added.

So far, the EPA's testing of water close to the shore has not shown any evidence of dispersant. But there is still a plate full of questions.

Thursday on Capitol Hill, the head of the EPA was asked about the risk of the dispersants being used in the Gulf.

"Were you that concerned about the unknown factors of dispersant? Why did you tell them to limit the use?" Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) asked Lisa Jackson, the head of the EPA Thursday.

"Absolutely, because there are scientific unknowns. We had to make decisions that are a series of tradeoffs. Basically, in common language, it was either do nothing, or in moderation. And in my best judgment, it should be in moderation," Jackson replied.

Currently, federal agencies are not testing seafood coming out of the Gulf for traces of chemical dispersants.