"Oil Spill Panel to Urge Tougher Oversight of Offshore Drilling"

"The presidential commission looking into the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico concludes its work on Tuesday with the release of its final report at 10 a.m.

The seven-member group, appointed in May by President Obama, has already telegraphed its major findings, placing the bulk of the blame for the disaster on the three companies responsible for the well – BP, Transocean and Halliburton – as well as the federal regulators responsible for overseeing them. In a chapter of its final report released last week, the commission said the industry was plagued by “systemic” problems that could lead to another such accident unless major reforms were undertaken by the government and the drilling companies.

On Tuesday, the panel will outline its recommendations for new laws, regulations and industry practices to try to limit the chance of another big blowout and spill."

John M. Broder reports for the New York Times January 10, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Oil Spill Panel To Recommend Tighter Rules, Money for Gulf Coast" (Washington Post)

"Spill Commission Calls for Reform" (AP)