Dutch clean-up offer refused

[T-Rexx]

-the Dutch government offered the use of its equipment at no charge.

This, apparently, is not entirely accurate. The Dutch government offered free technical advice. But much of the offer was for the purchase by the US of equipment and technology from private Dutch corporations.

BP did, in fact, buy three of the Dutch Koseq oil skimmers to use in the gulf.

jones act
did you just say that there are "environmental laws" that prevent the government from using more skimmers and accept international help

The Jones Act dates from the 1920s. It prohibits foreign nationals from operating foreign ships in US waters while engaged in commercial activities (such as foreign ships fishing American waters, for example). It expressly permits, however, foreign ships and crews to engage in oil cleanup activities in US waters. The Jones Act, therefore, does not apply to oil spills and no presidential waiver of the act is necessary to allow foreign nationals to assist with cleanup of US oil spills.

A number of foreign offers of assistance have been accepted and are currently under way. Most of this aid is Mexican.

Apparently the Drudge report which implied that offers of foreign help have not been accepted is false.
http://mediamatters.org/research/201006300004?lid=1125301&rid=49129680

State Dept:"The United States will accept 22 offers of assistance from 12 countries and international bodies, including two high-speed skimmers and fire containment boom from Japan," the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

Correct. Many offers of foreign assistance have been accepted and have been under way for some time.

So we are using the Dutch expertise?

BP has apparently purchased three of the Dutch skimmers offered for sale to help with cleanup.



http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/25/nation/la-na-jones-actqa-20100625