As the anniversary of the BP oil spill is approaching, the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee (OESC) held its first public meeting in Washington.
The federal advisory body consists of leading scientific, engineering and technical experts who will provide a forum to evaluate scientific and technical information on energy and ocean safety. The committee is also charged with recommending effective approaches to offshore drilling, workplace safety, well intervention and containment, as well as oil spill response.
Commissioner Cherry A. Murray with the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Deepwater Drilling discussed the “need for a culture of safety" for deepwater drilling.
Director of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), Michael R. Bromwich, recently said "this committee is a key component of a long-term strategy to address on a continuing basis the technological needs and inherent risks associated with offshore drilling, and deepwater drilling in particular.”
The public hearing included session on the findings and recommendations of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and offshore drilling, a session on investigations into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon blowout and a roundtable on committee activities and future efforts of the OESC.
This morning on the Washington Journal, Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council, discussed the 2011 budget cuts affecting environmental regulations, including cuts made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other topics of discussion included Wednesday's anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, offshore drilling and the investigation into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon blowout.