May 18 Update:
In Gulf Spill, BP Using Dispersants Banned in U.K. by Marian Wang, ProPublica - May 18, 2010 2:24 pm EDT
The two types of dispersants BP is spraying in the Gulf are banned for use on oil spills in the U.K. As EPA-approved products, BP has been using them in greater quantities than dispersants have ever been used in the history of US oil spills.
BP is using two products from a line of dispersants called Corexit, which EPA data appears to show is more toxic and less effective on South Louisiana crude than other available dispersants, according to Greenwire.
We learned about the U.K. ban from a mention on the New York Times' website. (The reference was cut from later versions of the article, so we can't link to the Times, but we found the piece elsewhere.) The Times flagged a letter Rep. Edward Markey, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, sent to the EPA yesterday. The letter pointed out that both the Corexit products currently being used in the Gulf were removed from a list of approved treatments for oil spills in the UK more than a decade ago.
Gordon Peabody of Safe Harbor and Congressman Markeywere interviewed live, along with a Florida island Mayor, on the Emily Rooney Show regarding the spill. Click on the link below. The interview begins with Congressman Markey, goes to the Mayor and then to Gordon about 1/4 of the way through the download. The second half of her show has a different topic.
Title: The Emily Rooney Show 5/17/10
Link: http://www.wgbh.org/programs/programDetail.cfm?programid=854&featureid=11904&rssid=4