Sternly worded letter of the week

Dear Everybody Involved,

You appear to have been awfully naughty.

The Interior Department's new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement notified BP, Transocean and Halliburton on Wednesday that the companies violated federal safety regulations in the events leading up to last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and could face civil penalties. The issuance of 15 so-called Incidents of Non-Compliance -- seven to BP and four each to Transocean and Halliburton -- are based on the findings of the Joint Investigation Team of the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement and the Coast Guard.

Don't take this the wrong way but we really feel compelled to note the following.

All three were cited for failing to protect health, safety, property and the environment by failing to perform all operations in a safe and workmanlike manner, for not taking measures to prevent unauthorized discharge of pollutants into offshore waters and for not taking the necessary measures to keep the well under control at all times.

We're terribly bent out of shape about what to do here. Please respond if we've hurt your feelings or if you have any ideas about how seriously you should be punished, if at all.

The three parties have 60 days to appeal, after which BSEE will decide about imposing civil penalties.

OOXX,

Your buds at the Interior Department