Very often, we combat the deleterious effects of uncertainty with more unknowns. The Deepwater Horizon disaster was a low probability, high impact event, meaning that within a reasonable degree of uncertainty it was believed by investigators that the chance of a catastrophe occurring was almost negligible. The natural world is intrinsically stochastic and thus, uncertainty must be considered in policymaking and risk assessment analysis. A low probability event may adversely influence the viability of life forms and the environment on such a large scale that the mere possibility of its occurrence should influence initial actions. Spillage of toxic material may occur intentionally or accidentally. Intentional spillage is often linked to improper disposal due to lax regulations and environmental negligence. The Vineland Chemical Superfund Site, the subject of my own senior thesis research, is a horrid case of irresponsible behavior on the part of a large biocide corporation.

            The Vineland Chemical Company manufactured arsenic-based herbicides from 1950 to 1994 on a 54-acre site in the City of Vineland in Cumberland County, New Jersey, in a residential and industrial area. The plant site included numerous manufacturing and storage buildings, a laboratory, and several lagoons. Prior to 1977, the company stored by-product arsenic salts in exposed piles and in abandoned chicken coops. Improper storage and disposal of the arsenical biocides led to the contamination of groundwater and subsurface soils.  Groundwater arsenic concentrations as high as >10,000 µg/L, three orders of magnitude greater than the US drinking water standard of 10 µg/L, were recorded by the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the commencement of treatment. Contaminated groundwater discharged into an adjacent wetland stream, the Blackwater Branch, and the nearby Maurice River, the second longest and largest tributary of the Delaware Bay, and the downstream Union Lake (EPA). Early analysis of groundwater revealed the presence of As(V) (arsenate), As(III) (arsenite), and the organic arsenic compounds MMA and DMA.  Fifty-seven thousand people depend on the groundwater system in the area for drinking water, either through private or municipal wells. Because of its dangerously high levels of contamination, the EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List in 1984 and addressed the contamination concerns by undertaking both immediate and long-term cleanup actions. The EPA demolished the chicken coops and abandoned buildings, fenced off the contaminated areas, and removed hazardous chemicals stored on the site. Long-term site remediation includes a large extraction and treatment system able to pump up to 2 million gals/day. The pump-and-treat system has been in operation since 2000 and has an operating cost of four million dollars per year.

                        BP sprays chemical dispersants to aid in cleanup of Oil Spill.

            The Vineland case was more than a disaster; it was the outcome of reckless behavior, a crime if you will. When the Vineland Chemical Company could no longer pay for the costs of damages, the government assumed responsibility. The Deepwater Horizon disaster was not intentional and thus, should not be treated in the same manner. However, with every environmental tragedy come lessons learned quite harshly. Local, small-scale actions have broad effects that scientists cannot predict because of unknown underlying mechanisms and unrevealed factors. When disaster strikes, our solutions very often involve more unknowns that exacerbate the original problem. Right now, BP is using chemical dispersants that remove the oil from the surface of the water and into the water column by enhancing the natural chemical and physical breakdown of oil. This promotes the dilution of oil and subsequently, reduces toxicity levels. However, scientists warn that the dispersants themselves carry unknown risks. "It's a whole new ball game," said Ted Van Vleet, a professor of chemical oceanography in the college of Marine Science at the University of South Florida. "People are totally unsure as to how it is going to affect the ecosystems." More than 670,000 gallons of chemical dispersants have already been used by the Deepwater Horizon response team.  The toxicity of the chemicals harms a number of aquatic species, including egrets and bluefins, by contaminating critical habitats. The EPA must take action before it is too late. Warnings must translate into strict regulations. Otherwise short-term quick fixes, like Vineland's disposal of arsenic, could have long-lasting destructive effects.