Ben Cardin

I want to make sure that our assessments are as transparent and open as possible today.

I don't know what BP Oil's position is going to be a couple of years from now.

I think seeing first-hand is critically important to try to at least comprehend the magnitude of what you are going through.

Let me interrupt you at this point because we are down to--oh, Senator Merkley has arrived.

But I think it is important for us to get an early assessment as to the range in which we are talking about.

Clearly the damage that was done, and in Exxon Valdez I think the damages far exceeded $75 million to the natural resources.

I would just urge that it might be worthwhile to talk to BP about helping us accelerate the digitizing of the material you are using.

One of the reasons I want transparency is that I just want an honest assessment of the damages that have been done and do our best to get a restoration plan that protects the natural resources for the public as best as we can.

The record will be kept open for questions.

I would ask that this Committee be kept informed as those decisions are being made.

On behalf of this Committee, do we have your assurance that if the independence and objectivity is not at the standard you think is right to protect the public, that this Committee will be notified so that we are aware of the concerns that…

As trustees I believe you really have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure that you are satisfied for the purposes of the people of this Nation...

Are you concerned by the reports that BP is hiring a significant amount of academic talent under nondisclosure agreements?

Do we have adequate resources to do this assessment?

It is important that you have your own independent funding sources in order to be able to do an accurate assessment.

To get this right you have to have an accurate assessment going in.

I think you have a particularly important role in the view of protecting the public interest.

So we can't leave our fate in the hands of big oil. And that is why I am going to continue to insist that we place a permanent ban on offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast.

The tragedy in the Gulf has confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that offshore drilling has inherent dangers.

Let's be clear. Even as we take every step possible to clean up this spill and protect the environment and wildlife, we simply cannot wait for the next oil disaster to occur.

Senator Menendez's bill, S. 3305, that this Committee adopted, will make sure that BP is legally bound to honor its pledge to pay 'all legitimate claims' including those for natural resource damages.

On April 20 of this year the BP Deepwater Horizon exploded and began this Nation's greatest manmade environmental disaster.

The current $75 million limit on oil spill liability damages represents but a small fraction of the actual economic and environmental costs.

BP and its partners are responsible for repairing this environmental destruction, in addition to the economic devastation they caused.

Transparency is important here.