Public perceptions of the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Personal experiences, information sources, and social context

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 113; pp. 31 - 39
• Main Authors: Safford, Thomas G., Ulrich, Jessica D., Hamilton, Lawrence C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30.12.2012; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Age; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Environmental degradation; Environmental disasters; Environmental Exposure; Environmental impact studies; Environmental management; Florida; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Louisiana; Oil exploration; Oil spill response; Oil spills; Organizations; Perception; Perceptions; Petroleum Pollution; Pollution; Public Opinion; Public perceptions; Social Environment; Social impact; Sociology; U.S.A; Louisiana; Florida; ASW, Mexico Gulf; Public perceptions; Environmental disasters; Sociology; Oil spill response; Organizations; Oil spill; Organization; Social perception; Information source; Disaster; Deep water; Environmental management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.08.022

The 2010 British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil spill highlighted long-standing questions about energy exploration and its social and environmental implications. Sociologists studying environmental disasters have documented the social impacts resulting from these events and dissatisfaction with government and industry responses. In this paper, we use data from a survey conducted during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to examine how Louisiana and Florida residents' social backgrounds, experiences with the spill, and trust in information sources predict their perceptions of governmental and BP response efforts. We find that direct personal impacts and compensation strongly influence the evaluations of responding organizations. Age and place of residence also predict such assessments. Finally, levels of confidence in television news and BP as sources of information appear to shape Gulf Coast residents' opinions about the work of organizations responding to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. ► We surveyed Gulf Coast residents regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ► We explore residents' views about organizational actors responding to the spill. ► Age, race, income, political party, and place of residence all influence opinions. ► Direct family impacts and receipt of compensation from BP also shape views. ► Loss of trust in information sources erodes support for responding actors.