"Yet MMS accident reports state that blowout preventers have failed or otherwise played a role in at least 14 accidents."
"It is important that accurate information is made available about the potential risk, about the potential environmental damages, and the capacity to respond to that."
"I do not know how you could accurately portray to the regulatory agency the minimal risks in the event of a blowout."
"When you represent the State of Rhode Island or the State of Maryland, you understand how important our oceans are."
"It is important that we establish a hearing record, as we will today, as to the impact of both of these areas."
"What I find surprising is that the Gulf of Mexico spill if it lasts for another month, it will surpass Exxon Valdez."
"I just urge you to let us know if you need additional tools from Congress in order to be able to deal with the scientific information necessary."
"In the event of such accidental release, water quality would be temporarily affected by dissolved components and small droplets."
"Are they failsafe?"
"It may be less damage than otherwise would have been caused, but it is creating a different set of factors."
"The more you realize the depth of information we have and we don't have about the risk factors in the oceans, it really does point out two facts."