The Hill News

BP appears to have finally stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, although the efforts to seal the well permanently are ongoing. But we must keep in mind that the job of cleaning up as much as 100 million gallons of oil â€" compared with Exxon Valdez’s Alaska spill of 11 million gallons â€" is just beginning. This is not only the worst single-incident environmental disaster in our country’s history, but it also is the world’s worst accidental marine oil spill.

What is equally disastrous, but less frequently reported, is the impact to the physical health, economy and livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the Gulf Coast. Among these communities, perhaps the most vulnerable are thousands of Southeast Asian and African-American families. The adverse effects experienced by this population are potent and unique.

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