Never Waste a Good Crisis: Deepwater Horizon and a Call for Congressional Action

Abstract

This paper compares the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion to the 1979 nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island, characterizing both as preventable catastrophes that were the result of regulatory failure due to intra-agency conflicts of interest and industry ineptitude. Focusing primarily on the Deepwater Horizon spill, the paper discusses the federal government's response to the disaster, in particular the lack of a Congressional response, and explores the reasons for Congressional inaction: industry capture. It also discusses how a legislative response would not only improve the agency's ability to fulfill its regulatory and development objectives, but also be in Congress's best interests.