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November 17, 2010

Experts Fault BP, Gov’t Agency for Oil Spill
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A team of scientific experts has faulted BP, its contractors, and
government officials for missteps that led to the Gulf of Mexico oil
spill. In a preliminary report, a 15-member committee from the National
Academy of Engineering says BP’s "insufficient consideration of risk"
and "lack of operating discipline" contributed to the largest offshore
oil spill in U.S. history. The report also criticizes the U.S. Minerals
Management Service, the government agency responsible for overseeing
offshore drilling, for "insufficient checks and balances for decisions"
on well safety. Overall, the report says regulation of oil drilling has
been "relatively minimal" compared to other high-risk industries.



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