U.S.: The Ramifications of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continued spreading May 6. British Petroleum and U.S. federal agencies are continuing with their emergency response and mitigation efforts as the unprecedented spill continues. While the incident has not significantly interrupted shipping or energy refining and production, it does threaten several economic sectors and is sure to have political implications. However, until the full extent of the damage is assessed, it will be difficult to say whether the spill will result in a policy change regarding offshore drilling.