They are spending their time talking about the companies involved. No one is talking about the government’s responsibilities once the spill took place.
I’m wondering if there was an SOP (standard operating procedure) in place, and if there was, where it is. The Department of the Interior’s sub-unit, the MMS, claims responsibility for offshore continental shelf areas and control over drilling. They even collect monies and control that aspect of it very tightly.
Or
I’m wondering if there was not an SOP in place, and why in the world there wasn’t one given that they’ve had decades to put one in place.
You know there was a sudden reorganization of the Governmental Agencies involved with activity offshore....happened after the spill.
It was right there, in the energy bill...
Chances are the FedGov was caught with its knickers down as badly as FEMA was after hurricane Andrew. That would explain the finger pointing, etc., by the government even better than the bloviating and posturing for the cameras in an election year.
The Coast Guard is lead agency for spill response.
Search for “USCG pollution contingency plan” and you will find tons of info.
There are vessel response plans, area plans, regional plans etc. There is a plan for all scenarios, very detailed. Have fun!