Yes, BP is responsible for the volcano of oil, the result of a blow out on April 20, estimated to reach 60,000 gallons per day. However, BP operated in American waters under American jurisdiction. How were they allowed to continue to operate with no Blow Out Plan?
because the federal agency that regulates offshore rigs changed its rules two years ago to exempt certain projects in the central Gulf region
The federal agency is Minerals Management Service, an arm of the Interior Department charged with over seeing the safety of the off shore oil rigs. Two years ago, Spring 2008, would put the blame square on the Cheney-Bush administration.
The blowout rule, the fact that it was lifted in April 2008 for rigs that didn't fit at least one of five conditions, and confusion about whether the BP Deepwater Horizon project was covered by the regulation, caught the attention of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. [Wednesday, May 5, 2010.]
Feds Let BP Avoid Filing Blowout Plan for Gulf Rig
Looking into the origin of this catastrophe reveals the scrubbing of safety regulations in favor of the oil companies and it takes place during the Bush administration. However, there should have been more oversight from the beginning of the Obama administration. Only now Mr. Salazar finds out that there was no blow out plan. A little late, sir. What were his priorities during the last year? 2009 shows a deep interest in protecting shorelines and marshes. RESOURCE PROTECTION
And he didn't have time to inspect the oil rigs, to check to see if they met safety standards?
I don't know his full schedule for the last year, but I am astounded to find out that he just noticed this major lack of safety regulation after the rig blew up. We now face 60,000 gallons of oil along with methane gas erupting from the floor of the ocean.
Update: more on oil rig safety from McClatchy
Report adds to doubts about key oil rig safety equipment
The 10-page 2003 report, delivered at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston that year, suggests that the industry was so focused on drilling that it was willing to pay higher maintenance costs to keep rigs operating and avoid downtime rather than address some of the fundamental problems with the blowout preventers.
Watch for McClatchy, they told the truth about Iraq and now they are really covering the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.