New push for industry reforms after spill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Even as the crippled BP oil well continues to spew crude into the waters of the Gulf, the US government was yesterday moving to introduce industry reforms, beginning with a proposal that the federal agency that both collects the royalties for drilling licences and runs on-site safety and regulatory inspections be split in two.
The break-up of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which each year collects about $13bn (£8.7bn) from energy companies for the US Treasury, was set to be tabled by the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar. Only the Internal Revenue Service takes in more money for government coffers each year.
Meanwhile, the two US senators leading efforts to pass climate-change legislation, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, are expected this morning to introduce a law that for the first time would allow any state to veto the start of offshore drilling in a neighbouring state if it feels its environmental heritage was being put at risk by any spill.
With hearings into the accident now beginning on Capitol Hill, a spotlight will be trained on what some have said is an unhealthily cosy relationship between the MMS, part of the Department of the Interior, and giant oil companies. Records have shown, for instance, that BP was allowed to begin work on the crippled well last year without submitting the normal plans on how it would respond to a blow-out.
There are "inherent internal conflicts of interest" in the agency as it now exists, suggested Democratic Senator Robert Menendez last night, as Elmer Danenberger, a former senior official at the MMS, defended his ex-colleagues at a Senate hearing.
Mr Danenberger conceded that dividing MMS might be sensible. "That tends to be the trend internationally: to separate the resource management agency from the safety and pollution- prevention agency."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments