Preventing more spills

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

It is unfortunate that it often takes a tragedy before Congress acts on needed legislation, whether the subject is Wall Street reform, product safety or homeland security. The debacle of the past four months caused by the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a mishap caused by an oil rig explosion in April that killed 11 workers, is the latest example of a tragedy that cries for a legislative response.

The Democratic-controlled House, in a vote split mostly along party lines, took the common- sense route last week when it approved legislation that would eliminate the $75 million liability cap for oil companies responsible for spills. This cap has to go because taxpayers and businesses affected by a spill should not be forced to pay for any economic harm that exceeds $75 million. That onus should fall on the oil companies responsible.

The House bill also calls for needed offshore safety and environmental measures, such as regulations on the installation of safety devices intended to prevent oil well blowouts. There is also a ban on additional offshore drilling leases for companies that have shown a disregard for worker safety and the environment.

Had such measures been in place before the Deepwater Horizon disaster, they likely would have spared 11 lives and prevented as much as 184 million gallons of oil from gushing into the Gulf. Wildlife would have been saved, beaches would have remained clean and the Gulf’s fishing industry would have been free from disruption.

We encourage the Senate to swiftly approve similar legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid. In addition to the tougher offshore drilling regulations, Reid’s bill would create jobs by subsidizing the production and sale of vehicles that use electricity or natural gas. And homeowners would be rewarded with subsidies to make their homes more energy efficient.

Reid said his bill would prevent BP from repeating what it has done to the American people. Who would want to argue with that? The Nevada Democrat doesn’t stop there, though. He also recognizes the need for this country to forge a broader energy strategy that helps both the economy and the environment.

“We also want to lessen our dependence on foreign oil,” he said. “So we’re going to move to converting our truck fleets to natural gas.”

It should not come as a shock that Senate Republicans, who are beholden to Big Oil, will do everything in their power to make sure BP and fellow offshore oil drillers continue to go about their business without regard for worker safety or environmental protection. It was bad enough that BP acted irresponsibly. But the fact that Republicans refuse to join Democrats in passing such crucial legislation compounds the tragedy.