Built To Spill

30,000 gallons of oil spilled in the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It will take a while to determine what ecological ramifications will result from this 20-mile long mess, but considering that the leaked oil represents a monetary value of about $35,000, its a potent application. In contrast, imagine, what little environmental damage that a "crash" of a similarly-priced SUV would cause. Point being that oil is still cheap and unless we treat it as carefully as toxins or some truly expensive liquid it will remain difficult to contain.

Judging from past history, drunk captain Joseph Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez Alaska disaster received only a conviction for negligently discharging oil. He was fined $50,000 and required to perform 1,000 hours of community service, picking up litter along Alaska highways. Since that spill totalled about 11 million gallons, I anticipate the skipper of this boat getting fined $200 and asked to do a few hours picking up litter in Camden.