President’s panel to probe BP oil spill

The said panel, to be established with an executive order from the president, will investigate matters related to the spill, its consequences, rig safety and regulatory regimes on the local, state and federal levels, assess industry practices, and also study omission on part of the government.

Required to avert future disasters
"The commission will take into account the investigations under way concerning the causes of the spill," the president said.

While it was not clear as to who will lead the commission, current government employees and elected officials would not be eligible to serve on the commission, said a source familiar with the matter.

The setting up of the commission shows that Obama is down to business on an issue that has dominated public attention and raised doubts about oil companies' safety practices.

Rep. Edward Markey (D., Mass.), who had actively advocated an independent commission averred, "Whether it's a nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island or an oil blowout one mile deep, appointing an independent review panel is critical to reducing the risk of future accidents."

The "structure and functions" of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the agency responsible for regulating offshore oil drilling, has come under the scanner after the incident.

The current Gulf spill began after an explosion and subsequent fire on the Deepwater Horizon rig. The incident not only killed 11 workers, but is threatening the livelihoods of thousands more and the entire ecological system as the oil makes way to the shores.

MMS under fire
The "structure and functions" of the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the agency responsible for regulating offshore oil drilling, has come under the scanner after the incident.

Last week, the president had rebuked the agency, "For too long, for a decade or more, there has been a cozy relationship between the oil companies and the federal agency that permits them to drill."

"It seems as if permits were too often issued based on little more than assurances of safety from the oil companies. That cannot and will not happen anymore," added Obama.

Chris Oynes, the top official responsible for the supervision of offshore oil drilling for MMS, is due for retirement at the end of this month.

An administration official said, "This was Chris Oynes's decision to retire after almost 35 years of public service.”

“Shortly after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, he approached leadership at MMS and announced he would be retiring on June 30, and today he told his colleagues he would be accelerating his retirement," added the official.