I am writing to share some big news: I have been appointed by President Obama to serve on the commission he has created to examine the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
The panel, formally known as the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, will be chaired by Bob Graham, a former Senator and Governor from Florida, and William K. Reilly, former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
I am fully committed to conducting a rigorous investigation to carry out what President Obama asked in his Executive Order establishing the commission: “Examine the relevant facts and circumstances concerning the root causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster” and “develop options for guarding against, and mitigating the impact of, oil spills associated with offshore drilling.”
I am also deeply honored to be chosen to participate on this commission. It’s a hugely important undertaking, and I will do my utmost to fulfill the commission’s mandate.
To protect the independence and integrity of the commission, I will not be involved in--or blogging about--NRDC’s efforts in the Gulf or related oil and energy work while the commission conducts its investigation. Our final report is due in six months.
In my stead, you can turn to the blog of NRDC Executive Director Peter Lehner, who will share his expert analysis of and recommendations for the situation in the Gulf and America’s clean energy future.