Gulf Oil Spill Is Bad, but How Bad?

FYI - The area of oil impact is a home range (EFH - essential fish habitat/critical habitat) of the threatened Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)... see: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/fish/gulfsturgeon.htm Another nail in its coffin? Will BP et al. pay fines for habitat degradation and for dead individuals of threatened and endangered species? "Under Section 7 of the ESA, all Federal agencies must ensure that any actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species, or destroy or adversely modify its designated critical habitat." Will BP et al. be held liable for violating this part of their drilling/resource extraction permit? ... or were they exempt from such liability? How much is an endangered/threatened species worth on the "bad-o-meter?" never mind the down-the-line human health effects from seafood consumption in the future... (everything has some contamination in it already... what's a little more???) Important thoughts when contemplating how bad this is... Best, DJE Marine Biologist www.djem18.gather.com

I am taking side bets. Everyone loses. The form of the wreckage will matter.