LETTER: How much hydrocarbon was actually released? “Maybe they don’t want us to know”

Dear Editor,  This is the second "release of hydrocarbons" notice in the last ten days and I am curious as to exactly how many of these hydrocarbons (measured in gallons […]

Dear Editor, 

This is the second "release of hydrocarbons" notice in the last ten days and I am curious as to exactly how many of these hydrocarbons (measured in gallons or liters) were actually released. I can only assume that is because it was a big number.

If it was "only" ten gallons or even liters, I am sure we'd have had a "Hey folks… nothing to worry about here. It was only a few liters – ten to be exact."
But no. We just get that it was enough to put out a lot of boats, containment booms and "Don't drink the water" notices. Call me a pessimistic old fart if you want but – to me – this suggests that maybe they don't want us to know how bad it really was.

I think the Journal should at least ask the question and then maybe run the answer by a few "experts" who don't work in this area to get an unbiased but factual opinion as to how bad these "releases of hydrocarbons" really were and maybe even the truth as to whether or not we are living in a safe-to-drink-the-water community.