'Changes must be made to promote the safety of the men and women on the offshore platforms,' he says
Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, introduced legislation last week that would require a standby vessel to be stationed within 12 miles of offshore drilling installations to allow quick rescue in the event of a blowout disaster like last year's massive BP explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"As we pause to reflect on the 11 lives lost last year,
we take the time to see that changes must be made to promote the safety
of the men and women on the offshore platforms," Landry said. Landry
said that similar legislation was introduced in a previous Congress by a
former congressman from the 3rd Congressional District, Billy Tauzin,
R-Chackbay, but never passed as Arco, a BP subsidiary, objected.
"I hope this time, BP and my colleagues in the House will give it an open and transparent debate and I hope we can get it through both houses quickly," Landry said.
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.857.5131. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.857.5125.