Killing the Gulf: More BP Fiasco Reporting

In a sternly worded letter to BP's attorneys, Transocean [the company who leased the rig to BP] said the oil giant has in its sole possession information key to identifying the cause "of the tragic loss of eleven lives and the pollution in the Gulf of Mexico," and that the company's refusal to turn over the documents has hampered Transocean's investigation and hindered what it has been able to tell families of the deceased and state and federal investigators about the accident.

[...]

  Yahoo-AP

In effect, about the same as sending it three times to BP.

Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point man on the Gulf oil spill, told the AP during a conference call with reporters Thursday that he was not aware of Transocean's letter and could not comment on it. Asked if BP has withheld any information vital to the government, Allen said, "None that I am aware of."

And he wants to keep it that way - him being unaware, I mean.

In another development, the U.S. government said Thursday the final plugging of BP's blown-out Gulf well will begin sometime after Labor Day.

Jeffrey Carter, an aide to the government's spill chief, told AP that the plan is to replace a failed piece of equipment called the blowout preventer first.

BP Plugs a Well, Take 73.

Seems like there’s been an unacceptable number of “failed” pieces of equipment, doesn’t it? There’s a product liability suit or two on the horizon. Pun unintended.

Carter said that if everything goes as planned, the final plugging will begin after Sept. 6.

"That's the anticipation, yes," Carter said. "So long as the conditions are met."

And no equipment failure. Weren’t they supposed to have that relief well done by August?

Carter said he did not know why things came together so quickly or why it will take nearly three more weeks to begin the bottom kill.

I thought “I forgot” was a weasley weak government official response, but “I don’t know?” That’s acceptable?

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.