Spill Panel Complains Transocean Bars Access to Documents, Witness

A federal panel probing the causes of the Gulf oil spill is complaining that rig owner Transocean is refusing to provide safety documents or a spokesperson to testify.

The investigative panel is run jointly by the US Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.

Co-chair Capt. Hung Nguyen said at a hearing that panel members "for two months have been trying to get Transocean to turn over materials related to its compliance with international safety management codes," the Associated Press reported.

Nguyen also said the panel "has been unable to get a specific Transocean manager to testify about safety," according to the AP.

• "Oil Spill Panel: Transocean Thwarts Efforts To Get Critical Documents, Witness," Associated Press, October 5, 2010, by Harry R. Weber.