EPA Says Chemical Dispersant Is Far Less Toxic Than Oil

BP started using chemical dispersants in April to break apart the massive amount of oil in the Gulf. In May, the Environmental Protection Agency told BP to find a less toxic dispersant to use. But BP never did, and continued using a dispersant called "Corexit."
Now after initial tests, the EPA says Corexit is less toxic than oil.

Dr. Bob Shipp is a popular marine biologist who thinks dispersants will do more harm than good. "I just can't understand it. I just can’t understand EPA’s role in this at all, it makes no sense. You shouldn't use dispersants anyway because it makes the oil far more difficult to handle. It allows it to enter the ecosystem and it's going to have some negative effects."

Dr Shipp says the oil would be easier to clean up without dispersants.
"The oils on the surface, you can burn it, you can skim it, if it gets on the beach you can clean it up. You're not destroying the oil by putting it into the water column, it's still there."

Casi Callaway with Mobile Baykeeper wants the White House to put a stop to it.
"We think it's time for the President to step up and say no more dispersant."
She says the EPA doesn’t have the power to do that.
"Once a chemical gets listed on EPA’s list, there is no method to remove it. So you can't d-list the chemicals. When BP was told you need to find a less toxic dispersant, they said, nope, it's on your list, therefore we can use it."

Casi Callaway urges citizens against dispersants to write to the EPA, here is how you can get involved: http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/news/corexit-action-alert

So far, BP has used close to two million gallons of Corexit. And there is no way to tell how much more will be dumped into the Gulf.