By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-900807.mp3
New Orleans, La. – Top-level executives from BP and Transocean of Houston, which operated the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded and sank in the Gulf, are scheduled to testify at two Senate committee hearings this week. They could be asked about reports that BP executives aboard the Deepwater Horizon were celebrating the company's safety record just as the April 20th explosion ripped the rig apart.
BP executive Doug Suttles confirmed the celebration did take place.
"One of the reasons the more senior members were there were to discuss the safety performance of this rig. This rig had an outstanding record. I think it had gone over 2,500 days without a significant safety accident. And that was one of the reasons the more senior members were on the rig at the time."
The executives managed to escape the inferno. Eleven on board were lost and are presumed dead. A House committee hearing is also scheduled to review BP's safety record. For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming