美國總統歐巴馬15日晚上於白宮橢圓形辦公室發表演講，強調墨西哥灣仍在溢流的漏油案應變處置都在聯邦政府的掌控中，並且若政府有所指示，該負責的英國石油將會照辦。他再次宣示：「我們將讓英國石油償付其公司造成的損害。」
歐巴馬強調，應該要從這次漏油事件中學到更大的教訓，就是現在即是美國有所變革，使用潔淨能源並遠離化石燃料的時刻。「攤在我們海岸上的悲劇是最沉痛與最有力的警示，擁抱潔淨能源未來的時間點就是現在。」他說：「現在就是時候，讓這個世代投入全國性的使命，綻放出美國的創造力並抓住我們自己命運的控制權。」
「這場漏油事件是美國所曾遭遇過最嚴重的環境災難。」歐巴馬說：「而且不像是地震或是颶風，這並非單一事件那樣，損害發生在幾分鐘或幾天之間。已經溢漏進到墨西哥灣裡的數百萬加侖原油更像是一場疫病，我們將花上數月甚或數年來對抗。」
歐巴馬表示：「明天(16日)，我將與英國石油總裁見面，告訴他，他必須找出任何所需要的資源，來賠償因他公司的草率行徑而權益受損的工人與商家。」這個基金將不會受制於英國石油。「為了確保所有合理的索賠要求能在公平且及時的情況下獲得付款，這個帳戶必須也將會由獨立的第三方來管理。」
歐巴馬已指示成立一個7名成員組成的跨黨派國家委員會(National Commission)以瞭解災難成因並提出所需的安全與環境標準建議。該委員會由共和黨籍的威廉‧雷里(William Reilly)，與民主黨籍的鮑柏‧葛瑞漢(Bob Graham)共同擔任主席。
威廉‧雷里在老布希時代擔任過環保署長，並曾任世界自然基金會(WWF)會長。他也是石油巨擘康菲(ConocoPhilips)公司、化學公司杜邦(DuPont)的董事會成員。鮑柏‧葛瑞漢為前美國參議員與前佛州州長，目前是政府「防止毀滅性武器與恐怖份子擴散委員會」的主席。
委員會其他成員的名單於14日宣布，包括：
- 法蘭西斯‧貝尼克(Frances Beinecke) - 非營利組織自然資源保護委員會(NRDC)會長
- 唐‧波許(Don Boesch) - 馬里蘭大學環境科學中心主任，亦為海洋科學教授暨環境永續副校長
- 泰瑞‧加西亞(Terry Garcia) - 國際地理學會任務計畫執行副總
- 綺莉‧莫瑞(Cherry Murray) - 哈佛工程暨應用科學學院院長，亦為工程與應用科學教授
- 法蘭‧伍爾默(Fran Ulmer) - 安克拉治的阿拉斯加大學校長
為了整頓礦業管理局這個負責海上鑽油的聯邦機構，歐巴馬總統於15日任命前司法部總監察長麥可‧布洛姆維奇(Michael Bromwich)為新局長。
16日上午，歐巴馬總統於白宮會見英國石油高階主管，他在會後表示英國石油這間石油大廠將會扛下漏油事件的財務重擔，不會由美國納稅人買單。歐巴馬說：「英國石油已同意撥出200億美元，支付因這場漏油意外受損而提出的索賠。」除此之外，英國石油已經同意設置1億美元的基金，用來補償因深海鑽油平台停工而受到影響的鑽油工人。停工決策乃是由於總統於5月宣布深海鑽探禁令延期6個月。
ENS新聞來源：
Obama Embraces Clean Energy, Pledges to Make BP Pay
BP Will Create $20 Billion Oil Spill Damage Claims Fund
可以連結這場演講的影片
In a speech from the Oval Office Tuesday night, President Barack Obama stressed that the federal government is in control of the response to the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and that the responsible party, BP, will do as the government directs the company to do. "We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused," he vowed yet again.
The larger lesson to be learned from this spill, emphasized Obama, is that now is the time for America to transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels.
"The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now," he said. "Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America's innovation and seize control of our own destiny."
"This oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced," the Obama said. "And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it's not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days. The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years."
"Tomorrow," Obama said, "I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness."
This fund will not be controlled by BP. "In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent third party," Obama said.
Obama has appointed a seven-member bipartisan National Commission to understand the causes of the disaster and offer recommendations for needed safety and environmental standards.
Co-chairs of the Commission are William Reilly and Bob Graham.
Reilly, a Republican, was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George H.W. Bush and has been president of World Wildlife Fund. A founding partner of Aqua International Partners, a private equity fund for water and renewable energy, he is chairman of the board of ClimateWorks Foundation, which aims to win the battle against climate change. Reilly is a board member of oil giant ConocoPhilips, of the chemical company DuPont and the Texas-based electric utility Energy Future Holdings, formerly TXU.
Graham, a Democrat, was a former U.S. Senator and former Florida governor who works with the newly established Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. He also is chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction proliferation and terrorism.
Announced Monday, the Commission members are:
* Frances Beinecke, president of the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council
* Don Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, a professor of marine science and vice chancellor for environmental sustainability
* Terry Garcia, executive vice president for Mission Programs for the National Geographic Society
* Cherry Murray, dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and a professor of engineering and applied sciences
* Fran Ulmer, chancellor of the University of Alaska, Anchorage
To clean up the Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that oversees offshore drilling, President Obama Tuesday appointed Michael Bromwich, a former Justice Department inspector general.
Oil giant BP, and not the American taxpayers, will bear the financial burden of the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and BP officials said after meeting at the White House this morning.
"BP has agreed to set aside $20 billion to pay claims for damages resulting from this spill," said President Obama.
Additionally, BP has agreed to establish a $100 million fund to compensate unemployed oil rig workers affected by the closure of the deepwater rigs during a six-month moratorium imposed by the President in May.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
