Lawmakers request BP stop using controversial firm in public health response

[Robbien]

Source: The Hill

Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Tuesday sent a letter to BP CEO Tony Hayward asking him to stop employing the private contractor Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) in its public health response.

. . .

The letter cites a recent Greenwire article listing cases that indicate "a history ... of releasing findings defending the corporate interests that employ them," according to the lawmakers. These include improper monitoring of air quality at a Tennessee Valley Authority coal ash site and failing to use accurate sampling techniques to determine soil contamination in a post-Hurricane Katrina refinery spill in Chalmette, La.

“By using CTEH, BP is putting its own bottom line ahead of the public’s health," Capps said in a statement. "Obtaining accurate and trustworthy data is critical to launching an effective public health response. BP needs to fire CTEH and hire a firm without such a questionable track record."

The letter is dated June 25 but was sent today, according to a press release from Capps's office.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/other/106161-lawmakers-request-bp-stop-using-controversial-firm-in-public-health-response

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I expect BP will listen to these lawmakers as much as it listened to the EPA about using Coexit.

[earcandle]

1. Glad to see folks are on top of this!

[Angry Dragon]

2. The government better be doing its own testing

and charging bp for it.

This is getting insane.
If I understand this we are letting a criminal investigate their crime.
This then should apply to all criminals, only fair.

[Nihil]

3. O-k-a-y ...?

> Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Tuesday sent a letter
> to BP CEO Tony Hayward asking him to stop employing the private contractor
> Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) in its public health
> response.

Two politicians requesting that one company stop using the services of another
company for business? That's a little above the usual "lobbying" role for which
they accept their bribes contributions isn't it?

:wtf:

> ... indicate "a history ... of releasing findings defending the corporate
> interests that employ them,"

So, nobody has done anything about them until now?

I guess that the PR company aren't actually doing anything illegal then and
that the politicians actively approve of "defending the corporate interests"
... as long as the corporation concerned is not BP.


> BP needs to fire CTEH and hire a firm without such a questionable track record.

I'm sure that those politicians will sort out any breach of contract fees and
ensure that their interference in the running of a third-party company does not
incur any costs ...


> I expect BP will listen to these lawmakers as much as it listened to the EPA
> about using Coexit.

They don't even deserve that much time. At least the EPA were trying to respond
to knee-jerk criticism rather than just being two-faced opportunists.