GULF OF MEXICO - Lets Trust BP.... NOT!

"BP Seeks to Resume Drilling in Gulf of Mexico" by JULIA WERDIGIER and JOHN M. BRODER, New York Times 4/3/2011

Excerpt

BP has asked United States regulators for permission to resume drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, two company officials said on Sunday, creating a delicate situation for the Obama administration as it seeks to balance safety concerns with a desire to increase domestic oil production.

The petition comes less than 12 months after a rig BP had leased there exploded, causing a huge oil spill and killing 11 workers. The accident tarnished BP’s image and raised questions about its safety procedures.

Just last week, the Justice Department confirmed that it was considering a range of civil and criminal penalties against BP, including potential manslaughter charges for the deaths of the rig workers, as part of its ongoing investigation into the accident.

At the same time, President Obama, in a major statement on energy policy last week, said the administrations was seeking to reduce dependence on imported oil in part by increasing domestic production, both onshore and off. BP was one of the major producers in the gulf before the accident.

BP is seeking permission to continue drilling at 10 existing deepwater production and development wells in the region in July in exchange for adhering to stricter safety and supervisory rules, said one of the officials. An agreement could be reached within the next month but would not include new drilling, the official said.

The other official said, “We’re making progress but it’s not a yes yet.” Both people spoke on the condition of anonymity because talks on a possible agreement were continuing.

Can you believe these assholes (excuse my language)!

We are supposed to just trust them to continue drilling after what they did?!

I hope that they do NOT receive approval unless it includes very, very stringent regulation and close monitoring by people have never been connected to BP or its affiliates.

This should include a very detailed inspection of EACH rig and that ALL problems be fixed, and reinspected, BEFORE the rig is approved. Note, re-inspection is NOT just a letter from BP stating a problem has been fixed; their word has no credibility.