Well, certainly the objectivity here is of concern, and that is why I think we made it clear on the record that we want to be notified by our Government agency trustees if they feel that the independence has been compromised.

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

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.

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

But in response to Senator Whitehouse's point about the responsible party being brought into the process, doesn't that almost per se bring into question the objectivity of the work?

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

I do think there has to be more accountability in the U.S. participation.

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.

The record will be kept open for questions.

the direct relationship between human rights and security.

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

This Committee, the Subcommittee as well as the full Committee, will be monitoring this as one of our highest priorities to make sure we get this right.

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

It is important that you have done as thorough a job as possible in looking at the scope of damages.

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.

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.

And we will be monitoring that very, very closely.

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

If the reported numbers are correct, we know that according to the testimony here today, BP has already agreed to somewhere around $45 million of funding for assessment studies.

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...

Do we have adequate resources to do this assessment?

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

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

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.