April 30, 2010 11:44 AM

Obama Promises Review of Gulf Oil Spill

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
White House ,
Domestic Issues
(Credit: CBS)

Updated 12:30 p.m. ET

President Obama today promised a review of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico after an explosion at an oil rig.

Mr. Obama said he ordered Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to review what happened and report back within 30 days with "additional precautions and technologies" to prevent future accidents like this from happening again.

During the remarks in the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Obama sought to counteract perceptions that his administration had been slow to react to the disaster, saying that his team has been "working closely" with state and local officials since the day of the explosion last week.

He said that the federal government was "fully prepared to meet our responsibilities to any and all affected communities." Several Cabinet secretaries have already been dispatched to the scene, as well as 1,900 federal personnel and other resources. Mr. Obama also stressed that BP would be responsible for all costs related to the cleanup and said the administration is inspecting all deepwater rigs in the Gulf.

Mr. Obama added a remark on his overall domestic oil production that pointedly did not close the door to future drilling.

"I continue to believe that domestic oil production is an important part of our overall strategy for energy security, but I've always said it must be done responsibly, for the safety of our workers and our environment," he said. "The local economies and livelihoods of the people of the Gulf Coast as well as the ecology of the region are at stake."

Earlier, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod said in an interview that no new offshore drilling would be authorized until the administration gets answers about the current spill.

"No additional drilling has been authorized, and none will until we find out what happened here and whether there was something unique and preventable here," he said on ABC.

In particular, Mr. Obama said all future leases would be required to have the safeguards included in Salazar's report on the incident.

The president made the remarks at the top of planned remarks on the economy following a report that Gross Domestic Product grew 3.2 percent in the first quarter. Mr. Obama said the economy was moving in the "right direction" but added that there was more to be done to help more unemployed Americans get jobs.

More on the Gulf rig disaster:

Oil Spill By the Numbers
Weather Hurts Gulf Oil Fight; Wildlife in Peril
U.S. to Assume Greater Role in Gulf Oil Spill
Oil Spill: What Went Wrong?
Oil Spill Creeping Toward U.S. Coast
Pentagon's "Full-Blown Effort" to Halt Spill
Obama on Oil Rig Cleanup
Oil Leak May be 5 Times Worse than Initial Claim
10 Animals Most in Danger from Oil Spill
Fighting Oil with Fire
Photos: Louisiana Oil Rig Explosion



Add a Comment See all 29 Comments
by tsigili May 3, 2010 11:04 AM EDT
Funny isn't it......how no one bothers to watch what goes on.....until the disaster has already happened. Then they "review what happened".......as if we didn't already know.....someone either screwed up, or they used faulty equipment, one. In either case, it shouldn't have happened, and in no case, should they have been drilling, without having a fail-safe shut off.

If they can't do it safely.....it shouldn't be done.....pure and simple.
Reply to this comment
by SueZeeeQue May 1, 2010 11:27 PM EDT
Right wing nuts have been screeching drill baby drill.


Now they want to blame this big oil disaster on Obama.

lol!
Reply to this comment
by wfw3536 May 1, 2010 9:08 PM EDT
What a shame it took the Obama administration over one week before they finally figured out this was a major problem. In that time they could have taken over from BP and done a lot when the weather was calm. Instead they are doing little to nothing and trusting BP to do what is right. This administration just does not get it. What a terrible disaster for our country. And then Obama says he wants to drill more off shore wells-------------talk about an administration that is out of touch.
Reply to this comment
by SueZeeeQue May 1, 2010 11:28 PM EDT
What a shame you're lying.

The federal government was on the scene from day one and they have stepped up their efforts as the situation has worsened.
by doctor_know May 3, 2010 12:15 AM EDT
I thought the federal governments response to this was superb, especially considering it was a privately owned oil rig.
by ralphblaylock May 1, 2010 4:39 PM EDT
Oil is a national security issue. The president should of immediately had the proper advisors in place. He didn't go to homeland security until 5 days after the incident. The general hands off attitude is the problem here, whether the spill could of been prevented or not. He will be the one to pass blame to everyone else as this tragic event unfolds. What won't be told is how he was playing golf and eating cheeseburgers as 14 workers were unaccounted for due to an event of national significance, just ignored. Bush was blasted (rightly so!) for his 2 day delay on Katrina. Obama should be blasted also! What is sad is how our country has fallen on its face because of inept leadership by both parties. I pray God helps the people of the gulf coast, the innocent wildlife and our country in general to become what it once was.
Oh and by the way, WHY??? put out the fire on the rig? Wouldn't letting the fire burn help keep the oil pressure from seeking its path of least resistance? That was the major blunder!!
Reply to this comment
by SueZeeeQue May 1, 2010 11:31 PM EDT
Put down the crack pipe Skippy.
by doctor_know May 3, 2010 12:21 AM EDT
Dont you know the difference between a natural disaster and an industrial accident?

... and seriously, "The president should of immediately had the proper advisors in place".... this is like 3rd grade grimmer bro
by SueZeeeQue May 1, 2010 10:22 AM EDT
We're poisoning our air, water, and land.


It's time to get serious about moving away from fossil fuels.
Reply to this comment
by bankersvox May 1, 2010 1:20 AM EDT
From my desk to yours...


Let me clear about this, Nuclear Energy would solve all our problems. It is cheap. It has been used for decades in France, China and the state of Conn. reducing waste and pollution, and most importantly reliance upon Arab oil. It is for that reason, that I authorize this country building 200 new Nuclear Plants in the next 4 minutes, to bring low cost energy to the people who most need it, in rural and urban areas. Thank you, and good night.
Reply to this comment
by NowBeWithThat April 30, 2010 4:54 PM EDT
Let's cut to the chase - The Blamer-in-Chief will finger Halliburton Co. and of course the former Bush Administration. This fruitless endeavor will spark a new firestorm of partisan bickering over drilling and corporate irresponsibility etc.

The interim elections are upon us and 2012 will be here before you know it. What's an incumbent to do with all the disaffected, disillusioned Americans suffering from voters' remorse? Answer: get new ones!

Puerto Rico is set to become the newest State of the U.S.A.

While the Obama Administration panders to the hispanic population with his 'misguided' comments about the Arizona immigration law, latino voters are flocking to his altar as the latest converts. Ultimately, another addition to the latino vote is secured for 2012.

Bait and switch at its best.
Reply to this comment
by aftinc April 30, 2010 4:28 PM EDT
Oh boy, Obama is here to save us agina and again, what a pure dope.

I feel bad for the fish, birds etc... but we'll clean it up, never know it happened, relax.

If a panick button was needed it was when Obama was elected.
Reply to this comment
by dwilson59 April 30, 2010 3:51 PM EDT
Liberalme

This is just like the mobile bio chemicals in Iraq and WMD, this is just to keep Obama in the Office. Obama never wanted to drill in the first place but wnated to stop all drilling. He brought in Chaney to teach him how to blow up the Oil rig. I know Chaney is involved because Halliburton got a contract to lay the cement at the bottom of the ocean floor. It has now gone full circle Bush wins and makes his friends money. Chaney winds and will start working with Obama. Halliburton will be called to congress and will have to explain what is going on with the contract with BP.
Reply to this comment
by bajajohn1 April 30, 2010 3:11 PM EDT
During this investigation it shall be very important where responsibility lies. Of primary concern is determining the responsibility for not requiring the anti-blowout technology used throughout the world to prevent this type of event. Reportedly, costs for the technology were $500K and the oil industry lobby successfully removed the authorizing language from the regulatations. We need to hold people accountable. No excuses, no delays. Name them and indict them if necessary.
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