Pallone Grills BP, Transocean Executives on Industry's Ability to Prevent Future Oil Spills

Press Release

In the second of seven hearings on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. Thursday demanded answers on the cause of the spill and the ability of the companies to prevent future spills. Executives from BP and Transocean, two of the companies responsible for the approximately 130,000 barrels of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, provided testimony before members of the House Natural Resources Committee.

"I've heard over and over again from the oil companies that we have plenty of ways to stop spills and I think this current spill is a dramatic example that none of that is true," said Pallone. "I hope you are able to control the current spill in the next few days, but so far you haven't yet been able to control it. What evidence do you have that the technology exists to prevent a future spill?"

In response to Pallone's questioning, Mr. Lamar McKay Chairman and President of BP and Mr. Steven L. Newman President and CEO of Transocean Ltd. were unable to assure Americans that an offshore spill of similar magnitude could never happen again.

In light of BP's testimony today, no expansion of offshore drilling should take place. The technology does not exist to prevent a deepwater spill or to contain it, Pallone concluded.

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