Contact: Giselle Barry (Markey) 2022242742

Eben BurnhamSnyder (Markey) 2022242742

Washington (October 28, 2013) - Senator Edward J. Markey (DMass.), who led the investigation into the BP oil spill when he was in the House of Representatives, issued the following statement about a new report from the National Academy of Science (NAS) that urged the Department of the Interior to utilize the best available and safety technologies in offshore oil and gas operations. While serving as the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee in the House of Representatives, thenRep. Markey authored legislation to implement key recommendations of the BP Spill Commission and led continued oversight efforts of the offshore oil industry following the BOP oil spill.

 

"While we have made important reforms since the BP oil spill to improve the safety of offshore drilling, this new NAS report continues to highlight that there is still work to be done. We need to continue to work to implement the recommendations of the NAS and the independent BP Oil Spill Commission to improve the oversight of offshore drilling and the development of safer drilling practices. I will continue to fight in the Senate to enact legislation that implements the safety reforms that the Department of Interior cannot do on its own, including raising the liability cap to ensure that oil companies are held fully responsible for their spills, increasing civil penalties for companies who violate the law, and providing a steady funding stream for federal offshore safety regulators so they can do their job. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to ensure drilling off our coasts is safe for our workers and our environment."