China's Secret Spill: What Happened At Bohai Bay?
In June, at least 330 square miles of China's Bohai Bay were covered with oil due to leaks from an offshore drilling rig. However, sources claim the water wasn't the only thing covered with something crude.
According to the AP, it took almost a month for the Chinese government to make a public announcement regarding the spill, a delay that some are calling a cover-up tactic.
The AP reports there were two leaks at the rig operated by ConocoPhillips: one that occurred on June 4 and another on June 17.
Chinese news outlets had reported an unusually large amount of dead fish found in the area, but no word of an oil spill was confirmed by the government until July 1.
On July 5, officials spoke at a news conference. They announced the leak as "under control" and with no visible floating oil in the bay. However, according to The New York Times, another official said a "small slick" could still be seen.
Yang Fuqiang of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Beijing branch told The New York Times that the Chinese government took too long to report the spill to the public.
“According to the regulations, any oil spill has to be reported to the public,” he said. “People who live in coastal areas have a right to know so they can make preparations.”
Although officials promised minimal damage to the surrounding environment, activists remain skeptical. Li Yan, who works as the energy campaign manager for Greenpeace's Beijing office said there just isn't enough known to make any accurate determination.
"So far the information from the administration isn't comprehensive enough for us to judge how much impact it actually can bring," he told the AP.
Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips defends its response to the spill.
"Upon observing the sheen, ConocoPhillips took prompt action, promptly reporting the incident to Chinese authorities and activating response procedures,” said the oil company on its website.
An investigation by China's State Oceanic Administration is currently underway. It has announced a minimum fine of $31,000 if ConocoPhillips is found at fault.
