Off Shore Drilling

Just wondering, as many boaters know, the ocean has various depths, whether close to shore or even miles off shore.  If we drilled in shallower water, even closer to shore rather than excessive miles out to sea, would we have been able to handle this disaster quicker, and  more efficiently?  Maybe this question should be part of the analysis of the off shore drilling regulations.  I don't claim to know the answers, however, before we shut down the industry with a ban, we should be considering how to avoid this type of accident and if the distance off shore could be taken into account.

The other question is that rather than have the fisherman, and many men who are out of work, just sit there and do nothing, why not use them BP to build even small berms that would contain the oil along the shorelines that have not been touched yet?   People are desparate for jobs, especially in the States that are hit with this pollution.  Again, I am not an expert on this, but in addition to a million dollars BP has given for relief to be doled out, why not provide jobs in the clean up which should be going on now with as many workers as possible.