What gave BP the legal right to dump poison into the ocean?

[Bonobo]

Does anyone have any idea how BP wal legally permitted to dump a toxic substance into the ocean off America?

Forget about the fact that it was a known toxin.

Forget about the fact that the POTUS asked them to stop.

Just as a basic issue, no person or corporation has the RIGHT to just dump shit into US waters...

So how did BP do it? How was it allowed to continue? Is legal action being taken over it?

Could I just go and dump a million tons of insecticide into the Ocean if I didn't like water bugs?

[rhett o rick]

1. I am surprised at your confusion. BP owns the ocean. Duh. nm

[ThomCat]

2. They are a very large international corporation

and politicians are afraid of large international corporations.

Large international corporations have a $billions to buy:

1. Armies of Public Relations firms and all their representatives and agents
2. Armies of Lobbyists who come with "suggestions" in exchange for large campaign donations
3. Anonymous front groups budgets to either campaign for them or slander the hell out of them
4. And best of all, consulting services from retired politicians after they leave office, if the politician has always played nice and done whatever the large international corporation wanted.

That's why BP has the right to dump whatever they want, wherever they want. No corporation is going to dare stand in their way. :(

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Money talks. It's the American Way.

[Rex]

4. What she said +1.

[RufusTFirefly]

5. Why do you hate America? n/t

:sarcasm:

[Amonester]

6. BP also convinced Tony Bliar to join the cheney lying fest so they

could finally make more billions in profits from the oil they will steal out of Iraq

And charge most of the expenses to the U.S. taxpayers for centuries ahead http://www.costofwar.com/

BP execs don't care more for the million dead Iraqis than the eleven workers on the deep-water horizon (and the thousands troops)

[Cresent City Kid]

7. Environmental Protection Agency approved it

They gave their reasons in a press release, around May 20th I think. I can't say whether they were fooled by BP or are complicit in fooling us all, but they gave the green light, no legal action forthcoming. I can't remember exactly how they justified it, but the gist of it was that the use of dispersants was the lesser disaster (I strongly disagree). Obviously, BP's goal was to lessen the amount of oil hitting beaches, as well as making an accurate accounting of the total amount of oil impossible. Why the EPA enabled this cover up is a question that deserves an answer.

I'm sorry I don't have links, but it should be easy to find on the EPA site if you're interested.