I think congress could save our money and skip those hearings -- sounds like federal regulation might be a good idea in this case. Why on earth were these lines exempt from regulation in the first place?

And why, if these old lines are in such horrible condition, did it take them more than 4 months to figure it out? Were they waiting for another 250,000-gallon oil spill to take this seriously?

I'm sure BP does "deeply regret" that they finally have to take some action and be responsible ... might make it tougher to hit record profits again next quarter.

This is another example of the oil companies taking windfall profits to line the pockets of a few executives and not pay attention to the business. During these times of astronomical profits these companies should invest and recondition there operations.

Had Enough???

BP is a greedy, greedy company. They will still make a hudge profit this year. Oh they'll fix the pipe okay......and while they fix it....they get to charge even higher prices for gasoline and all the big oil companies will see even greater profit. How bout those guys......boy are they sticking it to us. Thanks George Bush and you bunch of pigs in Washington.

I guess this is more of a question for Congressman John Dingell, but he called on BP to take necessary steps quickly so consumers wouldn't have to pay for their "laxity". I would like to know what he's going to do to protect us against the rising gas prices? I'm afaraid I already know!

And Bush & Co. wanted more oil fields up there opened up! Lovely republican politics, backrubbings, profits, etc. Hmm, I wondered why the posted quarterlies were so good, safety always costs too much. Sorry about the rant, had to say it. Exposing my naivete, trust, apathy, stupidity... I will admit to being unaware of the allowable federal exemptions. I will never believe those beautiful green commercials of thiers ever again. There are too many people here on this planet for us to run away from the problems of our own making. What do we do to solve this one without extremity?

So much for expecting mega-corporations to "do the right thing". They can't even keep their equipment in order, much less their social commitments.

Maximum profits, minimum corporate responsibility.

Hey... let's put $150 million into the exec's retirement fund! Stupid idiot's!

14 years between inspections? Exempt from federal regulations? How much did the oil companies pay in political donations for that privelege?

If there isn't a requirement to inspect these pipelines, what event occurred 14 years to cause that inspection to happen? What were the findings?

Another big oil company I will personally boycott!!! I have not purchased Exxon gas since the Exxon Valdez episode. BP should be heavily penalized. Just greed in operation!!

BP management should be criminally prosecuted for their incompetence and lack of moral responsibility. I do not understand why they are not held to federal oversight. How did that occur? More criminal investigation of political corruption needed here as well. BP should pay the cost difference tenfold that will occur per increased barrel pricing due to this negligence, not as a fine but directly back to he people who will pay increased gas prices

I feel that they have made billions in profit and they cant keep thier equipment up to par. They need to spend that profit on lowering prices. If they can earn billions off the american people then they should have to give some back since they let thier pipeline fail. Thier failure shouldnt cost us the money. Where are they out. If I were to let something slide I would be responsible and noone else. Sure they will have to pay for repairs but they should have been doing that all along and not posting billions in profit.

A continuous and affordable stream of energy should be matter of National Security. It should not be subjected to the manipulations of Corporate Greed.

I often wonder whether it would be in this country's best interest if the the oil industry were to be nationalized.

So BP screws up and doesn't do their job for 14 years and I have to pay the price!! Well why don't they borrow the money from Conoco and all the other Gas companies profits they took in last year and let them pay instead of us. That is right, I make less than 100,000 a year and they make 15 billion extra.... Okay now who learned math??? Can we say conspiracy!!!

To maintain their obscene cash flow one would think that BP - which folks means British Petroleum - would maintain their infrastructure which is the transport mechanism of their cash cow. But to take all the money out and put nothing back into infrastructure maintenance is stupid.

I guess the oil companies see the end of the road, it's coming, the ironic thing is it's a self fullfilling prophecy...How many of us looked into alternative fuel methods and vehicles this past weekend? (raises hand)

As an American who drives and maintains a vehicle, I am require by law to have my vehicle inspected on a yearly basis. I don't think the 5 year inspection requirement that should have been required of BP is out of the question. Does anyone in the oil industry have even a remote amount of integrity? Try again BP CEO Bob Malone -apology NOT accepted!!

This country is so screwed up!....America used to be a great world power.

I started working with BP in 1996. To my surprise all the oil was being shipped to S. Korea and Japan, not the West Coast. After working with them for nine years BP management displayed an attitude that Americans were only colonists, just like India, where they eventually outsourced our jobs. BP broke longstanding contracts with the native population and cut corners with Alyeska Pipeline Services, who maintained the pipelines.
It's no surprise that a foreign-owned Oil Company would not protect U.S. natural resources. America you've been raped!