Former BP executive refuses to testify (5th)

[IChing]

By BRAD FOSS
AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The former head of pipeline-corrosion monitoring for BP in Alaska refused to testify under oath Thursday as outraged lawmakers grilled company officials over the causes of a massive oil spill earlier this year.

Richard C. Woollam, who lawmakers identified as a former head of corrosion monitoring at Prudhoe Bay, invoked the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution in refusing to answer all questions from a House subcommitte. "Based upon the advice of counsel, I respectfully will not answer questions," he said.

Earlier, other BP executives apologized and pledged to fix operational lapses on the North Slope that led to the region's biggest ever oil spill in March and the partial shutdown last month of the country's largest oil field.

Lawmakers said BP's mistakes in Alaska - as well as its responsibility for a deadly refinery fire last spring - were particularly unacceptable given the industry's record profits and the relatively inexpensive measures that might have prevented the oil spill.>>>>>snip

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ALASKA_PIPELINE_HEARING?SITE=FLSTU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Double T]

1. Scumbag oil company executives aren't happy unless they are......

squeezing every last penny out of the energy infrastructure. Maybe if they didn't give themselves $400,000,000.00 pensions their might be enough left to repair or replace the oil pipelines.

[Stargazer99]

2. How many tradgides will it take to make the common man

realize maybe capitalism and the profit motive is not the best system for living things. These capitans of industry which we are taught to admire are responsible for killing two young boys and one young man in Washington State due to their lack of proper maintenance (stockholders/owners might not be as wealthy if they have to fork over money to keep the community safe). They should have been tried for murder by not living up to their responsibilty as a community member. And to think corps are treated as people!

[snowbear]

3. Wow..

Thanks for sharing that IChing.. I know Richard Woollam VERY WELL from when he lived in Anchorage.. but only because he always invited us to his annual "street party"

When they lived in Anchorage (he & is wife and dog, they have no kids) .. held a MASSIVE party every single summer in their yard that they had catered.

They called it a "BP and ___ Drive Party" (I'm not sure I should put my street on here? He invited his Division (pipeline corrosion) from BP, along with every neighbor on the street.

His parties were insane!!!!! They had massive wall tents all over the property all decorated super nice with maybe 75-ish HUGE tables.. No one ever had to bring anything-- all food was catered and there were waiters, waitresses, two or three outdoor bars, UNBELIEVABLE food and desserts, etc.. They even had those giant jumping thingies (whatever they're called) hauled in for kids to jump in, face-painting clowns, live bands, you name it..

Richard (he goes by the full name, not Dick) always told everyone to "eat up, drink up, BP is paying for this!"

It always blew us away .. although :shrug: heck.. I always went because all my neighbors were there (plus.. I mean.. come on..)

But I've been wondering what happened to him since he left for Texas!!

WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!

As far as I know, the story about him hasn't even been in the Anchorage Daily News yet.. not that I've seen.

Makes me think now about how much MONEY they spent on those parties (a LOT) while letting the friggin pipeline corrode!!!

I'm printing out that article to show one of my other neighbors who keeps asking me if I know how they're doing.. I only went to his parties, I didn't hang out with the guy.

Wow.

Small world!!!