In light of the extensive investigation by the Washington Post (noted earlier today in this blog) and the work of the formal investigation panel, harsh assessments are beginning to come out. U.S. spill panel question drilling policy, Reuters news, August 25.

The BP oil spill  in the Gulf of Mexico was a massive “failure” in oversight for the oil industry and the U.S. government, the co-chairman of the White House oil spill commission said on Wednesday.  *** regulators and offshore drillers were aware of the possibility of a major well blowout, such as the one that caused the BP spill, but ignored the risks.

This disaster represents an enormous and shared failure of public policy,” Graham said at the commission’s second public meeting.