Commission on BP Oil Spill Calls for Tougher Regulations

Jan. 11, 2011 -- A "fundamental reform" of the oil industry and government regulations is needed to ensure that another incident like the BP oil spill doesn't occur, according to the president's National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

In a report released today, the commission attributed the causes of the largest oil spill in U.S. history to a "culture of complacency," leading to human errors, engineering mistakes and mismanagement by BP, Halliburton and Transocean as well as a lack of stringent offshore drilling regulation.

"We believe they unveil systemic failures within the oil and gas industry and within the regulation by the federal government of that industry," former Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and co-chair of the commission said. "Our government let it happen. Our regulators were consistently outmatched."

The commission recommended the creation of a safety agency within the Department of Interior that would oversee all aspects of offshore drilling and bring regulation of the industry in line with the 21st century.

Funding for this agency would come from fees attached to the leases for offshore drilling in public waters. The commission called on Congress to boost funding and training for the Department of Interior to ensure that appropriate and serious oversight is exercised.

"It is our government's responsibility that exploration and extraction occur in ways that are beneficial to the country," Graham said. "Drilling offshore is a privilege to be earned, not a right to be exercised by private corporations."

The commission also proposed the creation of a safety institute led by leaders in the oil industry to ensure best standards and practices are carried out; raising the current liability cap of $75 million for offshore drilling accidents; and the allocation of 80% of the funds collected from the BP oil spill to restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.

The seven-member panel unanimously approved the 15 recommendations included in the report. Many of the recommendations will require action by Congress, but the administration may also implement some of the recommendations through executive order.