Barrasso: Day 36, Still No Solution in the Gulf

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned the Administration's delayed response to the oil spill in the Gulf during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.

Excerpts of Senator Barrasso's remarks include:

"I think the headline from yesterday's Wall Street Journal tells it all.

"It says: "U.S. was not ready for major oil spill--Despite mature offshore operations, Gulf crews are improvising with chemicals, protected boom, and outdated maps.'

"Today is day 36, oil continues gushing into the Gulf.

"No one is really sure how much oil is leaking.

"But we were first told it was 1,000 barrels a day. Then it looked like 5,000 barrels a day.

"Now scientists say that the number may be much higher.

"The cloud of confusion over how much oil is spilling into the Gulf is very concerning.

"It's also very unclear who is in charge.

"Here's today's Washington Post, front page: "Administration torn on getting tough with BP'

"Secretary Salazar says BP has missed "deadline after deadline.'

"Secretary Salazar says that if BP is "not doing what they're supposed to be doing, we'll push them out of the way.'

"But just yesterday, the Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said "to push BP out of the way, it would raise the question, to replace them with what?'

"And that's why it is hard to tell who is in charge.

"The response seems to be delayed. We've tried many different things, from the top hat, the junk shot, to the undersea straw.

"During testimony just last week, to this committee, Secretary Salazar promised that last Saturday or Sunday, triggers would be pulled to try the dynamic kill.

"Saturday passed. Sunday passed. No sign of a dynamic kill.

"So 36 days, still no solution.

"The American people want to know if the Administration is dithering while U.S. coastal communities are engulfed in oil.

"Public anger truly is growing. The American people are angry, angry at BP and angry at the Administration.

"The Administration's confused response stands in contrast to public anger.

"This Administration likes to say that it will "keep the boot on the throat of BP.' Well it's time to use the other boot to actually stop the spill.

"BP clearly bears the brunt of the responsibility for the spill. BP is responsible for paying for all of the cleanup, regardless of cost.

"The White House and the Administration has some responsibility.

"There are lapses in regulatory enforcement.

"The second story in the Washington Post today: "U.S. oil drilling agency ignored risk warnings. Officials bypassed laws protecting environment documents show.'

"So the spill occurred in federal waters. The federal government owns the underground oil.

"So my question Mr. Hayes, at what point does this Administration take complete control to protect our communities and our coastline?"

Senator Barrasso is the only Republican member of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources and Environment and Public Works Committees.

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