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Originally Posted by roachboy
this piece from the washington post may explain some of the specific lack of preparedness around this bp site. it was exempted from safety reviews undertaken by interior thanks to bp lobbying efforts. the safety reports that were issued presupposed that what has happened was impossible. best to look at the linked article because it contains links to supplementary materials.
washingtonpost.com |
I have read this article, many others, I have listened to experts and those used as experts by the media. This is a complex issue and the underlying idea that BP used lobbying efforts to misdirect or to hide environmental risks of rig failure is overly simplistic. BP has no financial incentive to operate an off-shore rig with an unacceptable level of risk. This event was an accident, unforeseen and as a result the exposure to damage was under-estimated. The regulatory agency has no incentive to expose the Gulf of Mexico to catastrophic oil spills and I believe the people working there do the best they can. There are lessons to be learned here, but over-reacting and being judgmental on motives is unfortunate. It would be nice to live in a world with no risks and no accidents but we don't.