Patty Murray

I was not happy when previously BP refused to participate in the committee hearing.

As I said, Royal Dutch Shell develops safety cases for all of its offshore installations, regardless of statutory requirements.

I am seeing a disturbingly high number of press reports that suggest that BP workers are afraid of speaking out about safety concerns for fear of being fired.

Are you going to say, 'Whew, I made it through the hearing,' or are you going to go back and tell them that there are serious concerns?

So are tents currently used in any blast zones at any BP facility in the United States?

Does BP or the industry really think that tents are safer in blast zones than trailers are?

Can you assure me today that fundamental changes are being made at Cherry Point to address those violations?

But you can't give us a definite timeline for when these--I mean, last November, 270 violations as I just described to you.

Is there a particular advantage to not completing a safety case for each of your worldwide worksites?

I would hope that you would agree that unless workers feel 100 percent safe in coming forward about their concerns about safety, that change can't and won't be fully effective and the culture doesn't change.

Well, I am also very concerned about the company's ability and willingness to address mechanical integrity issues in the future since they seem to be identified as a contributor to many of BP's recent failures not only in the Gulf, but the…

Well, does it bother you that you know that people were cutting corners and overruling tests and denying the use of proper equipment?

Would you give me your commitment today to work with me and Senator Isakson, this committee, and this Administration in leading fundamental and really lasting change in BP's own and in the oil and gas industry's general approach to safety?

My question to you is does that bother you that that is going on in the company? You are the head of safety.

I have become very concerned that these reports, while they are important, are inadequate at best and often misleading.

I was really shocked to hear at that hearing a number of disturbing facts about trailers and tents at refineries.

Well, you just described to me and the committee a number of processes and plans. Can you tell me exactly when you expect to have that all in place because, frankly, I am kind of tired of having to worry about companies that handle…

Oil and gas development that comes at the expense of American lives is not oil and gas drilling that I or anyone on this committee can support.

The subcommittee will come to order.

Can you assure me that BP is ready to respond to an accident of similar proportions at a refinery like in Washington State?

Because one of the things that we know is that if no one is calling up and saying, 'We have a culture of safety. You need to follow it. We are very concerned that these violations have taken place. Fix it.' How do you convey that you have…

I feel on behalf of those who have been injured in your company, it would be a far better position to say I am going to change this culture rather than to come and tell us all is well.

But you can't give us a specific timeline to do that?

Thank you, Senator Harkin, for holding this hearing.

The taxpayers have been harmed now, significantly, and our work force, our industrial base, and our capabilities.