The US's Response to the Oil Spill: Who is to Blame?

While the Obama administration has criticized BP for their relief efforts for the quickly spreading oil, the federal government has had many opportunities to jump in and hasten the clean up process, but has not yet done so. Action had not come until the spill size was at 5,000 gallons/day and considered of "National significance". The government has been waiting around for BP's solution. Critics question whether the federal government relies too much on the Oil companies to manage the response to the spill. "Here you have the company that is responsible for the accident leading the response to the crisis." However, it is still the government that has the final say. The weather has been holding back the relief efforts. It is believed that it could have been stopped before reaching shore, but the weather has not been permitting. The head of the coast guard said that he has been satisfied with the team's response. He is confident that the response would have been the same, even if they had known earlier how large the spill actually is.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02.us/02gulf.html?pagewanted=2&ei&hp&ex&partner

Submitted By: Erin Burneson