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Spotlight on Oklahoma LISTEN: Hot Air Exclusive: EPW Report Shows New EPA Rules Will Cost More Than 800,000 jobs Inhofe: Jobs/Economy New Focus of EPW Committee if Chairman Tulsa World: EPA to Delay Revised Ozone Standards Tulsa World: State Gains in Road Funding SENATE REPORT: President Obama and the Flawed Federal Response to the BP Disaster Inhofe Family Igloo Captures Headlines across the Country Inhofe In Copenhagen: "In the Lion's Den" - "Republicans Launch Counter Offensive" - Copenhagen "Has Failed" WATCH: Inhofe on Kudlow Speaks About Obama Backdoor Energy Tax Update: 59 Additional Scientists Join Senate Report...More Than 700 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims Cap-and-Tax Opposition Resource Center; Impacts of Costly Climate Bill Exposed Climategate Commitment to Cost-Benefit Analysis Commitment to Independent and Verifiable Science Commitment to Oklahoma Eco-Terrorism Environmental Accomplishments Gas PRICE Act Get the Facts on Energy & Gas Prices Global Warming Gulf Coast Hurricane Response Improving the Service of the Federal Bureaucracy National Infrastructure and Public Works Accomplishments National Security and Energy Independence |
SENATE REPORT: President Obama and the Flawed Federal Response to the BP Disaster
May 7, 2010 *If you feel we are missing important information, please feel free to contact us and we will consider adding links to the page. Contact: matt_dempsey@epw.senate.gov NEW SENATE REPORT: FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP: PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FLAWED FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE BP DISASTER Washington, D.C. - Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released a report on August 5, 2010 titled, "Failure of Leadership: President Obama and the Flawed Federal Response to the BP Disaster." The report concludes that "President Obama and Administration officials failed in several instances to remove regulatory and bureaucratic impediments and to ensure that proper and adequate resources were brought to bear in addressing the BP disaster." The report documents various constitutional and legal authorities available to President Obama and federal agencies under his control-authorities that could have enabled them to respond to the BP disaster as expeditiously as possible. Yet, as the Senate report explains, in many important instances, these authorities were either ignored or fitfully exercised. The report documents specific examples of the President's failure to demonstrate leadership. They include: - Assistance: In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, multiple offers of assistance from foreign governments, corporations, and international bodies poured into the State Department. Yet, for weeks, despite the clear need for additional help and resources, the State Department failed to act on them. - Skimmers: President Obama failed to do everything necessary to deploy available skimming vessels. For example, he refused to issue waivers under the Jones Act, which prevented foreign vessels from working with American counterparts to skim oil from the Gulf. - Dispersants: EPA's management of dispersants was unfocused, and its communications about their safety and effectiveness was contradictory--all of which created confusion about their use. Moreover, top officials from the Obama White House contributed to this confusion, as they issued statements about dispersants that, at best, glossed over EPA's concerns, or, at worst, were deliberately designed to conceal them. - Workplace Rules: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforced rules and requirements that severely restricted needed legal and operational flexibility in response efforts. OSHA, for example, mandated 20-minute shifts for clean-up workers and required 40-hour training courses for potential supervisors. Sen. Inhofe announced the release of the new Senate Report in a YouTube video. Sen. Inhofe states in the video, "Our prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those who lost lives in this tragedy and to everyone who continues to feel its devastating impacts. The federal government had an obligation to respond immediately and get the job done right. Unfortunately, as the Senate report shows, the Obama Administration failed." Information on Gulf Coast Oil Spill Emergency Response First and foremost, our prayers are with the families who lost loved ones in this tragic event. Senator Inhofe will provide assistance to EPA [and other federal agencies] as they work on the comprehensive response effort. He also believes it is important to investigate how the Gulf Coast oil spill occurred, and once we have an understanding of the causes, help to prevent this type of accident from occurring in the future. This tragedy began on the evening of April 20th with an explosion on TransOcean's Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which was utilized by BP for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig sank two days later. Out of the 126 people aboard the rig, 17 people were injured and 11 are presumed dead. On April 24th, the Coast Guard stated that there were about 1,000 barrels a day emanating from the wellhead into the water and that it could become a major spill. Four days later, workers began a controlled burn to minimize damage to the shoreline. It is now estimated that the oil could be leaking at five times the rate initially believed. A lack of supplies and bad weather has complicated the clean-up. Link to Timeline on Gulf Coast Oil Spill and Emergency Response In an effort to help provide information for constituents, Senator Inhofe has created this webpage. Here you will be able to find the latest developments, commentary, and other resources about the spill. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at (202) 224-6176.
EPW Committee Hearings August 04, 2010 - Full Committee and Subcommittee on Oversight joint hearing entitled, "Oversight Hearing on the Use of Oil Dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill July 27, 2010 - Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife hearing entitled, "Assessing Natural Resource Damages Resulting from the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster." June 30, 2010 - Full Committee Business Meeting on S. 3305: "The Big Oil Bailout Prevention Liablity Act of 2010." June 9, 2010 - Full Committee Legislative Hearing on S. 3305: "The Big Oil Bailout Prevention Liability Act of 2010." May 18, 2010 - Full Committee Hearing entitled, "Federal Response to the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.” May 11, 2010 - Full Committee hearing entitled, "Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.”
The Latest News from the Inhofe EPW Press Office Human Events: Obama Failed to Lead During Oil Spill Foundry: Senate Report Criticizes Administration for Flawed Federal Response to Oil Spill Inhofe: Reid Punt on Spill Bill Exposes Empty Political Exercise LISTEN: Inhofe: Democrat Senate Energy Bill Bad For North Dakota INHOFE: REID-BOXER OIL SPILL BILL CREATES PERMANENT JOBS MORATORIUM IN THE GULF EPW POLICY BEAT: END THE OBAMA JOBS MORATORIUM More Mixed Messages from Democrats on Liability Caps - Now Senator Kerry Says Unlimited Unlikely WSJ Editorial: The New-Old Drilling Ban INHOFE ENCOURAGED BY DEMOCRATS' RESERVATIONS ON LIABILITY CAPS WATCH: Baucus Latest Dem To Expresses Concerns with Unlimited Liability Inhofe: Reasoned debate needed to amend energy legislation WSJ Editorial: The Antidrilling Commission Inhofe Human Events Op-Ed: Obama Trumpets Radical Energy Agenda Tulsa World: Sullivan, Inhofe speak out on spill LISTEN: Inhofe Comments on Barton BP Apology Remarks - Says We Must Hold BP's "Feet to the Fire" Fox - Obama Will Use Gulf Oil Spill to Push For Cap and Tax LISTEN: Sen. Inhofe on Obama's Gulf Spill Speech - Lars Larson Show - 750 KXL WATCH: Senate Floor: Inhofe Urges Obama to Focus on Gulf Spill, Not Cap-and-Trade Fox Interview: Inhofe Warns of Obama Attempt to Use Gulf Disaster to Push Cap and Tax Carney: Examiner: Once a government pet, BP now a capitalist tool WSJ Editorial: Obamas Oil Crisis Politics Democrats Send Mixed Messages on Liability Begich Echoes Murkowski/Inhofe/Salazar Concerns on Menendez Bill Washington Independent: Obama Administration Wants It Both Ways on Gulf Spill Liability Salazar says Dem bill to raise oil company liability could hit smaller drillers WATCH: Inhofe Questions Salazar About Menendez Bill at EPW Hearing WATCH: Salazar Shares Inhofe Concerns on Liability EPW POLICY BRIEF: THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 INHOFE RELEASES STATEMENT ON GULF OIL RIG ACCIDENT
Links to the Latest Information from U.S . Agencies and Officials The official federal portal for the Deepwater BP oil spill response and recovery: http://www.restorethegulf.gov/ Information from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA): Information from the Facebook Page of EPA: Information from the Facebook page of Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: http://www.facebook.com/lisapjackson Information from the Twitter Account of Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: http://twitter.com/lisapjackson Reports from the Coast Guard, NOAA, the Department of Homeland Security and BP: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/ Information from the Minerals Management Service (MMS): http://www.mms.gov/DeepwaterHorizon.htm Information from the Office of Response and Restoration NOAA's National Ocean Service: http://www.incidentnews.gov/incident/8220 Information from the Congressional Research Service: CRS Report on Oil Spills in U.S. Coastal Waters Links to the Latest Information from Outside Resources Information from British Petroleum http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=40&contentId=7061813 Live video link monitoring damaged riser Information from American Petroleum Institute http://www.api.org/Newsroom/safetyresponse/index.cfm
Letters from Stakeholders on Oil Spill Liability Legislation American Waterways Operators - July 29, 2010 Louisiana Oil and Gas Association - June 30, 2010 National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) - June 08, 2010 Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) - June 07, 2010 International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) - June 04, 2010 Lockton Companies, LLC - May 13, 2010 INDECS - May 12, 2010 Lloyd and Partners Limited - May 10, 2010 Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. - May 10, 2010
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