Democrats call on Congress to probe BP shutdown

[RamboLiberal]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-08-07T185815Z_01_N07305559_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENERGY-BP-HEARINGS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday called on the U.S. Congress to hold hearings into BP's operations in Alaska following a second oil pipeline rupture at its Prudhoe Bay operations over the weekend that will shut the 400,000 barrel-a-day oilfield.

"It is appalling that BP let this critical pipeline deteriorate to the point that a major production shutdown was necessary," said Rep. John Dingell, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a statement.

"The United States Congress has an obligation to hold hearings to determine what broke down here and what laws and regulations need to be improved to ensure problem pipelines like these are found and fixed earlier," Dingell said.

Democratic Rep. Edward Markey, who also serves on the House committee, said the shutdown reflects BP's chronic mismanagement of its U.S. drilling operations and that the company had been earning enough money to prevent the problem.

"With oil above $70 per barrel and BP making record profits, it can afford to properly clean and maintain its pipelines," Markey said in a statement.

[PATRICK]

1. Come on, make the point

that those profits were already earned by criminal price fixing of natural gas BP had scooped up in order to control the market.

The media won't remember, they need a lot of vociferous help. Connection or not, this the price these "paroled" offenders would be made to pay.

[FighttheFuture]

2. Hmmm... seems like more shorting the market to make the profits!

They burned or shut down just about all the refineries they can. This is an easy one. Out for a litte while and a great exuse for another 40 cents/gallon over the next three months.

[Moderator]

3. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2442106