Testimony Before Congress: Why the BP Oil Disaster is a Crime Scene

By Larry J. Schweiger

I had the opportunity to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week on why the BP oil disaster is a crime scene.  By some scientific estimates the spill is already more than eight times the size of the Exxon Valdez.  Yet BP is treating our public estate with a cavalier attitude by refusing to do proper testing to determine the size and underwater spread of the spill.  Our government must not let them get away with it.  The Gulf of Mexico is a crime scene and the perpetrator cannot be left in charge of assessing the damage or controlling the data.

This crisis in the Gulf is not just about making offshore oil platforms safer.  It’s about creating a safer energy platform for America.