WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential commission investigating the massive Gulf oil spill has found no instance where a decision deliberately sacrificed safety to cut costs.
Fred H. Bartlit, Jr., the panel's chief counsel, in a presentation Monday said the probe did not uncover any case where an individual made a conscious choice to "favor dollars over safety."
That statement conflicts with investigations by Democrats in Congress who have accused BP of cutting corners when it made several critical well design decisions. Those decisions have also been questioned by other major oil companies.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The early findings of the president's independent commission into what caused BP's Gulf oil spill will support many of the conclusions the oil company made in its own internal investigation.
Fred H. Bartlit, Jr., the panel's chief investigator, said Monday he agreed with about 90 percent of BP's findings. He said there were some areas where the panel's probe conflicted.
BP PLC's report found flaws with contractor Halliburton's cement job and maintenance performed by rig owner Transocean Ltd. The company's report has been criticized as self-serving, and a preview of its legal case.
Bartlit said the findings he will present later Monday are not meant to assign blame or liability but to get to the root cause "without a lot of bickering and self-serving statements."
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