U.S. panel calls for offshore drilling reform
Bruce Bullock, director of SMU's Maguire Energy Institute, talks about the White House oil spill commission's call for a dramatic overhaul of the way the U.S. regulates offshore drilling.
By Ayesha Rascoe
Reuters
WASHINGTON - Blaming the massive BP oil spill on government and industry complacency, a White House panel on Tuesday called for a dramatic overhaul of the way the U.S. regulates offshore drilling.
The White House oil spill commission, in its final report of the BP drilling disaster, said the U.S. government needs to expand its drilling regulations, as well as set up an independent drilling safety agency. . .
"I think the call for an independent regulatory authority is a good one," said Bruce Bullock, director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University. "That’s kind of the North Sea model that has served the U.K and to some extent, the Norwegians. In terms of the systemic issues, I’m not sure I would paint as broad a brush as they did. I would not brand the whole industry. I think you have to look at each individual company’s operating practices and determine whether they have the same issues."
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