Rep. Markey Demands Apology From BP Over Spill Estimates

15th Jun 2010 16:53

By Siobhan Hughes Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Rep. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) blasted BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) for initial estimates that 1,000 barrels of oil were gushing out of a broken pipe a mile below the Gulf of Mexico and demanded that a company executive apologize. "Are you ready to apologize for getting that number so grossly wrong that the capacity of federal and state governments to put in place a response was delayed because you did not do the job?" Markey asked BP America Chairman Lamar McKay, who was testifying before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. McKay said that the estimates were provided by the unified command. Last week, a team led by government scientists trying to measure the Macondo's well flow rate announced that about 20,000 to 40,000 barrels a day of oil could be spewing into the Gulf, far more than an initial estimate of 1,000 barrels a day. -By Siobhan Hughes; Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6654; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 15, 2010 11:53 ET (15:53 GMT)