page_title: Timeline of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (July 2010)
section_title: July 1–5
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (July 2010) / July 1–5
caption_attribution_description: English: Probability of Shoreline Threat, as of Day 120, for a 33,000 barrels/day release for 90 days by NOAA on Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Published 2010-07-02
context_page_description: Following is a timeline of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill for July 2010.
context_section_description: July 1
  Total estimated discharge since the start reaches 140,600,000 US gallons (530,000 m³) – topping 140-million-US-gallon (530,000 m³) Ixtoc I oil spill that was the previous biggest in the Gulf of Mexico.
  Senate Republicans agree to lift secret hold that Jim DeMint placed to block legislation giving subpoena powers to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. Wesley Denton, DeMint's spokesman, says, ""Senator DeMint does not and will not have an objection to this legislation…He simply objected on behalf of other senators who had not been given time to review the bill. Now that they've had time to review it, it seems no one has an objection."
  Kenneth Feinberg tells the House Small Business Committee that tourist-related businesses may not be able to collect from the fund set aside to pay damages. "If there's no physical damage to the beaches and it's a public perception, I venture to say that it is not compensable," he testifies.
  The supertanker A Whale, belonging to TMT Shipping of Taiwan arrives at Boothville, Louisiana.  It is billed at the "world's largest skimmer."  It reports it can skim 21,000,000 US gallons (79,000 m³) a day – 250 times the capacity of the fishing boats being used.  It is awaiting approval to be used.
  Hurricane Alex is downgraded to tropical storm and comes ashore in Mexico.  510 skimmers have been sent into port.
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration establish recommendations for using respirators.  They are particularly recommended for those where oil is being burned and voluntarily recommended elsewhere.
  BP issues cards to employees and contractors telling them they are free to talk to the press.
  July 2
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues models of the probability of oil coming a shore based on historical winds and currents.  The model show that Texas has a 1% chance of getting hit but that Florida Keys, Miami, Florida, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida areas have a greater probability (61%–80%) due to the potential influence of the Loop Current.
  Allen says that number of skimmers in the Gulf should increase from 550 to 750 by mid-July and more by August.
  Allen says that Hurricane Alex delayed the deployment of the Helix Producer and they are now on track for it come online on July 7 allowing collection of up to 53,000 barrels (8,400 m³) a day with the existing cap.  A second vertical riser is being installed and it is hoped will go into operation by July 15.  For everything to function a new cap will have to be installed.  Allen reports an autonomous sub-sea dispersant delivery system has been proposed by BP for delivering disperants in case a hurricane forces the recovery operations to be suspended.  The proposal is pending authorization.  Allen says that options in case the relief wells do not work are establishing pipelines to production facilities up to 5 miles (8 km) away ad then pumping it back down into the reservoir.  Another option is to simply continue pump oil out of the well if the cap is successful.
  Paul Zukunft says impact of Alex continued seven foot waves at the well site and 50 percent of the overflights were canceled. The A Whale begins trials.
  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers used in Hurricane Katrina are reported to be being used by BP to house employees.  The Katrina trailers had issues with contaminated with formaldehyde and had rules about their reuse.  They do not have the serial numbers.  Zukunft says they are not the Katrina trailers.
  New York Times reports on Camp Hope in Arabi, Louisiana which was being used for rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina.  BP has spent $600,000 on renovations to house 300 oil spill personnel.
  Study by researchers from the Imperial College London published in Water Research says that oil interferes with the "ocean's natural filtration system, allowing arsenic levels to build up and threaten the long-term health of marine plants and animals."
  July 3
  Unified Command issues press release which says, "T
caption: NOAA projections issued July 2 on probability of oil coming ashore
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