BP's (NYSE:BP) Allen Approved Over 74 Exemptions For Chemical Use

While we are all aware of BP's (NYSE:BP) use of the toxic chemical Corexit, documents have brought to light the excessive use of the chemical despite the Environmental Protection Agency's order to not use it. The order was given by the EPA on May 26th.

The documents, released by a congressional subcommittee states that BP was ordered to use the chemical sparingly and rarely. Coast Guard officials ignored this order, and allowed the company to use hundreds of thousands of dispersants in the Gulf.

There are over 74 documented cases that show the Coast Guard giving exemptions for the use of the chemical, despite the order against it. The time frame was only 48 days that these massive amounts of dispersants were used. One of the documents show that BP was actually given the "OK" to use more chemicals then what was even requested.

Thad Allen, the retired Coast Guard admiral who is in charge of leading the oil spill cleanup efforts defended his decision. He said that the overall use of the chemical dispersants dropped significantly after the EPA's order. Although, on some days the amount of surface oil warranted a "tactical" decision to use them.