Cuba drilling continues as US groups press spill response need

WASHINGTON, DC, May 11, Repsol SA continues drilling Cuba’s first offshore oil well as some US government agencies, oil and gas organizations, and environmental groups press to ease restrictions that would keep US companies from responding if the well blows out and sets off a spill, experts at a Center for International Policy seminar said. They reported some progress as more federal officials become aware of the problem, but indicated that much more needs to be done.
 
“No one is predicting a catastrophe,” emphasized William K. Reilly, co-chairman of the presidential commission that investigated the 2010 Macondo deepwater well incident and oil spill. He said Cuba and Repsol are moving more slowly than normal to keep matters under control, but the US still has not taken the final necessary steps to let US companies respond if the well blows out and begins to leak crude.

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