I am the walrus

Various stories and columns bandy about the disaster recovery plans of oil companies reference to walruses, which have not existed in the Gulf of Mexico for 3 million years.

The Atlantic: companies' plans for a similar disaster were basically 'cookie cutter' copies of BP's spill plan, all prepared by the same group, the Response Group. The plans include an assessment of the impact of a possible spill on walruses (which don't live in the Gulf) and the phone number of an expert who died in 2005 (well before the plans were submitted). 'ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are as unprepared as BP,' said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). 'The only technology you seem to be relying on is the Xerox machine,' echoed Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)."

Gail Collins: At the ritual Congressional lashing of C.E.O.’s this week, we learned that none of the major oil companies have any idea how to control a spill like this, and that their faux plans for handling one in the gulf were made up of boilerplate so undigested that several had sections on protecting walruses — mammals that have not been seen in the area since the Ice Age. “It’s unfortunate that walruses were included,” admitted Exxon Mobil’s chief.


ABC News (Australia):  ExxonMobil ridiculed for walrus oil spill plan. ExxonMobil in particular was ridiculed for including plans to deal with walruses - an animal whose range is confined to the Arctic - in its plans for a Gulf of Mexico oil spill.