The federal government has been sued over its role in enabling the BP oil spill.

[Statistical]

Environmental groups sued the U.S. government Tuesday, alleging regulators excused BP PLC (BP) from complying with safety regulations that may have helped prevent the rig explosion and sinking that unleashed a massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, the Sierra Club and the Gulf Restoration Network allege the Minerals Management Service issued deepwater oil-drilling permits to BP and other companies without requiring "oil-spill response plans" and "blowout scenarios" typically required to show companies can handle drilling accidents. The complaint adds to a growing chorus of criticism that the MMS, a unit of the Department of the Interior, took an increasingly hands-off approach in its regulation of the oil industry. In separate suits, environmental groups alleged MMS illegally excluded exploratory drilling operations from certain environmental laws.

The suit notes a letter sent April 1, 2008, to BP and other companies from MMS Regional Director Lars Herbst called a "Notice to Lessees." According to a copy provided by a plaintiffs' attorney, the notice informs drilling-permit applicants that they don't need to provide blowout scenarios or oil-spill response plans to the MMS unless they plan to operate off the coasts of Florida or Texas, off a specially protected part of the Louisiana coast, or plan to install an underwater "surface facility."

http://english.capital.gr/news.asp?id=971954

More at the link.

Ouch. I have to say I agree with them. The responsibility of regulating industry especially industries which have potential for serious harm lies with the government. In the military we had an expression you can delegate authority but not responsibility.

The governments rubber stamping of permits helped contribute to the disaster.

[DrDan]

1. it is a shame that it takes a lawsuit to explain to the U.S. Govt what their responsibility is

[jdlh8894]

4. Didn't realalise the US owned the gulf.

[elehhhhna]

5. Who did you think "owned the gulf"? BP?

[ljm2002]

9. Hmmm, then I wonder why they needed permits in the first place?

So you are saying the US has no authority.

Great.

Then who does? Should we just shrug, let them drill, baby, drill, and let the oil gushers continue to befoul our coastlines?

Inquiring minds, &c...

[jdlh8894]

10. All I'm asking

Is the gulf considered part of the High Seas,or does the US,Mexico,Grand Cayman,etc. have control and/or ownership?

[Statistical]

11. They area where the rig was located was in US "exclusive economic zone".

By international treaty any resources located within 200 miles of the coast of a nation are the domain of the host nation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_Economic_Zone

The rig was located in waters deemed for the exclusive economic use of United States and thus falls under federal oversight (or lack there of).

[ljm2002]

12. Not sure where the international waters begin...

...but seeing as how BP did have to get permits, I'm guessing the US government does have legitimate authority in those waters.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Until these people are help responsible for their crimes

of murder,fraud, and anything else that applies then this shit will never stop.

[truedelphi]

3. More I think about it, the more I realize being a libertarian makes sense.

If the only reason for the existence of most huge money grabbing gov agencies is to offer exemptions to the real Big Trouble Makers while assailing the rights of some poor small farmer, why should we have these agencies?

They are not protecting us in the slightest.

At least the libertarian crowd would legalize drugs and get the War on Drug Swat teams off the backs of our sleeping seven year olds.

[jdlh8894]

6. "They are not protecting us in the slightest"

Truer words have never been spoken.My hat is tipped and taken off to you!

[TexasObserver]

7. Courts allow citizens an ability to hold government accountable for sell outs.

Unfortunately, as soon as we set up regulations and regulators for industry, that industry starts taking over the regulation process in large and small ways. They shower the politicians with money and get bills passed or canned. They get flunkies appointed to major and minor posts. They are like the Borg, absorbing and retooling the machinery built to contain their advance.

This case probably won't be successful in the long run, but it will allow exposure of the government's failure to impose appropriate oversight, and that's a point worth underscoring.

[Juneboarder]

8. Go Sierra Club! nt

[amborin]

13. K&R