Semper Paratus or Faulty Mental Apparatus?

News item: "Coast Guard allows toxic chemical use on Gulf oil"

"The U.S. Coast Guard has routinely approved BP requests to use thousands of gallons of toxic chemical a day to break up oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico despite a federal directive that the chemicals be used only rarely on surface waters, congressional investigators said Saturday after examining BP and government documents."


As I recall, it was less than two months ago that the Coasties were holding the hawsers on the oil skimmer ships because of various Jones Act and OSHA technicalities. Why couldn't they come through with the emergency waivers then, when waivers were really needed?