Heavyweight may head oil safety inquiry

HOUSTON - Former US Secretary of State James A. Baker III may lead BP Plc's panel probing safety at the energy company's US refineries, according to reports in Houston-area newspapers.

A spokesman for Baker's law firm, Baker Botts LLP, referred questions about the safety panel to a BP spokesman, who declined to comment.

The Galveston County Daily News reported on Sunday that Baker's appointment would be announced as early as Monday, while the Houston Chronicle reported on Saturday that Baker was in talks to head the panel.

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board in August called on BP to form the independent panel to probe safety at the company's five US refineries.

The CSB's unprecedented urgent request came amid the investigation of a March explosion at BP's Texas City, Texas, refinery, which killed 15 workers and injured 170 other people, and two subsequent fires at the plant.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit BP with a US$21 million ($30 million) fine for safety violations after concluding its investigation into the blast.

The CSB has scheduled an October 27 public meeting in Texas City to unveil findings of its seven-month probe into the March blast.

The CSB's lead investigator has said key monitoring equipment was not working correctly on the unit where the explosion occurred. BP has said failures by some of its workers to follow correct procedures led to the explosion. At least six employees have been fired by the company.

Lawyers at Baker Botts have represented BP in the past, according to the firm's website.

Baker was secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1992. He was also White House chief of staff and secretary of the treasury under President Ronald Reagan.

- REUTERS