Press Release: The joint investigation identified numerous, significant decisions by BP that directly led to the BP drilling disaster, the impacts of which are still being felt by the Gulf and our communities.
Our reading of this report’s conclusions makes a very strong case to find BP grossly negligent, and to seek the maximum fines possible under the Clean Water Act, in excess of $20 billion dollars.
At the same time, the investigation has made numerous new technical recommendations to the reorganized federal off-shore drilling regulators, to help decrease the risk of this happening again.
Despite this scenario, some Louisiana politicians are doing everything in their power to strong-arm regulators into rubber stamping deep water drilling permits.
This report re-emphasizes that, instead of pushing for a return to business-as-usual, Congress should concern itself with passing legislation that will help restore and protect the Gulf. If we do not learn from this disaster, we are doomed to repeat it.
Any portion of this statement may be quoted with attribution to Aaron Viles, Deputy Director, Gulf Restoration Network.
To view a copy of the Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation report prepared by the United States Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, visit this link: http://www.deepwaterinvestigation.com/go/site/3043/.
