The Obama administration and BP are working hand-in-hand to assess how badly the oil spill has harmed the Gulf of Mexico and how much it will cost to restore the Gulf to its pre-spill state. This collaboration, a routine procedure, has begun to spark concerns among lawmakers and environmentalists.
“I want this to be independent, for the credibility of the information,” said Senator Ben Cardin, who as the chairman of the environment and public works subcommittee on water and wildlife, will hold hearings this month on the issue.
Stan Senner, who directs conservation science for the Ocean Conservancy, said the current collaboration will likely stop as soon as federal and state officials push for an overview of how the accident transformed the Gulf. “I think in the end that the relationship will break down and the government and BP will go their separate ways.”
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