Gulf coast oil spill

[gvidas]

BP Deepwater Oil Spill - Energy and Commerce Committee's Letter Outlining Risky Practices (The Oil Drum)

Congress wrote a letter to Tony Hayward, outlining its concerns that BP took shortcuts and undertook risky practices, in an attempt to keep costs down. This letter was written in preparation for Tony Hayward's testimony on Thursday of this week. [...]

Dear Mr. Hayward:

We are looking forward to your testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Thursday, June 17, 2010, about the causes of the blowout ofthe Macondo well and the ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As you prepare for this testimony, we want to share with you some of the results of the Committee's investigation and advise you of issues you should be prepared to address.

[...]

During your testimony before the Committee, you will be asked about the issues raised in this letter. This will provide you an opportunity to respond to these concerns and clarify the record. We appreciate your willingness to appear and your cooperation in the Committee's investigation.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman
Chairman

Bart Stupak
Chairman
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

The letter itself is, to put it simply, pretty ballin': they're highlighting a selection of technical issues in which BP took extreme shortcuts to hasten and cheapen the drilling of the well, at the cost of safe design and good construction. I've heard Waxman and Stupak are good, but this is pretty great.