NTLs
Interior Sued Over BP Regulatory Waivers
(National Law Journal) – A group of conservationists and fishermen have a new target: Interior’s Minerals Management Service. Earthjustice and Waltzer & Wiygul filed suit in federal court for the Gulf Restoration Network and Sierra Club, charging that the agency violated federal law by exempting oil companies from disclosing blowout and worst-case spill scenarios before approving their offshore drilling plans.
Reform: MMS Blowout, Worst Case Spill Waivers
GRN, Sierra Club lawsuit to invalidate MMS waivers exempting ”blowout” and “worst case spill” planning. Download: GRN-Sierra APA Complaint, GOMR NTL 08-G04, 30 C.F.R. 250 Subpart A—General, 30 C.F.R. 250 Subpart B—Plans and Information, 30 C.F.R. 250 Subpart C—Pollution Prevention and Control, 30 C.F.R. 250 Subpart D—Oil and Gas Drilling Operations
BP Ignores Regulations by Failing to Require BP to Undertake Key Site Specific Blowout Scenario and Worst Case Oil Spill Analysis
An analysis of federal documents by environmental attorneys at the Waltzer & Wiygul Law Firm has found that BP violated safety regulations by failing to undertake key “blowout scenario” analysis and by failing to supply these results to federal MMS regulators as required.
