*Top U.S. official pledges to reform ties to Big Oil
Oil spill to shut down 19 percent of Gulf fishing
NEW ORLEANS – Federal officials say they're expanding the area of the Gulf of Mexico where fishing is shut down because of a massive oil spill.
They had already shut down fishing from the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle soon after an offshore oil rig exploded and sank last month. About 7 percent of federal waters were affected.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday that it's expanding the closed area, though it won't say exactly where until later in the day. Nearly 46,000 square miles, or about 19 percent of federal waters, will be shut under the expanded ban.
Dr. Jane Lubchenco of NOAA says the government will be testing fish that is caught to make sure it's safe.
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Top U.S. official pledges to reform ties to Big Oil
May 18, 2010
NEW YORK, A top U.S. official pledged Tuesday to reform how the government does business with the oil industry, and to hold BP accountable for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar outlined the steps he has taken to overhaul the Minerals Management Service, which has been criticized for having a "cozy" relationship with the oil and gas companies it's tasked with overseeing.
The MMS has been in the spotlight since the Deepwater Horizon, an oil rig operated by BP, exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico last month, killing 11 people. The disaster resulted in a huge oil spill that has yet to be contained.
Salazar said his department has worked aggressively to contain the spill, which is leaking about 200,000 gallons of oil per day in the waters off Louisiana, and to limit the economic and environmental damage.
"We will get to the bottom of this disaster and will hold those responsible accountable," he said.
But much of Salazar's testimony was dedicated to assuring lawmakers that he is serious about cracking down on drilling practices in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where the nation derives nearly one third of its oil supply.
"We have been making major changes at MMS, and we will continue to do so," he said.
Crisis in the Gulf: Where were the watchdogs?
Salazar had previously announced plans to separate the departments within MMS that are responsible for enforcing regulations and for collecting royalties from the industry, which have averaged more than $13 billion over the last 5 years.
In addition, Salazar terminated a royalty collection program in response to "ethical lapses and criminal behavior" uncovered during the Bush Administration.
"Many of the changes we have made have raised the ire of industry," he said. "But we have not, and we will not, back down from our reform agenda."
The secretary also noted that the Obama Administration has proposed legislation that would grant the Department of Interior an additional $29 million to inspect offshore oil and gas platforms, create new safety regulations, and to study the spill's impact.
The legislation would also extend the time MMS has to review and approve oil exploration plans to 90 days from 30 days.
Salazar said his department, along with the Department of Homeland Security, is investigating the causes of the April 20 explosion. The agencies plan to offer recommendations based on the investigation in a 30-day safety review as mandated by the White House.
"There will be a robust set of recommendations," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100518/ap_on_re_us/us_gulf_oil_spill_commercial_fishing
