"The safety of oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has dramatically improved since the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, but progress has been uneven and critical gaps must be addressed to prevent accidents that can threaten workers, the environment and public health, a report released Tuesday by the National Academy of Sciences said.
“A visible, industry-wide, industry-led commitment to a culture that supports safety is lacking,” the report by the academy's Gulf Research Program concluded.
It added that while 80% or more of offshore work is done by contractors, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) cannot legally require them to follow federal “safety and environmental management systems” (SEMS) rules because the agency’s authority is limited to the leaseholder, or operator, company overseeing a drilling operation."
Mark Schleifstein reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune April 5, 2023.
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