BP IS BACKPEDALING

Lucas,

Thanks to all of the informed Public Citizen activists who made last week's briefing call* on the Oil Spill Commission such a success.

Now we have to keep the pressure on, because BP is backpedaling on its pledge to "make it right."

If you haven't already, please call your representative today and demand that Congress pass meaningful legislation to respond to the BP disaster and to prevent future oil spills.

This Monday, Louisiana state officials announced that BP has reneged on promises made in November to negotiate early payments to the state to help rebuild oyster beds, repair damaged wetlands, and build a fish hatchery -- measures required to allow Louisiana to respond to the collapse of commercial fisheries in the wake of the BP disaster.

Officials in Louisiana are suggesting that BP is shifting from a public relations strategy to a litigation strategy.

In the coming weeks, we will be promoting several actions you can take to help ensure BP and the other oil industry majors are held accountable for ecological damage done by oil and gas activities and held accountable to oil spill victims and taxpayers.

Now that the cameras are gone, BP has reverted to looking after its bottom line, when it should be cleaning up the bottom -- as well as the surface and shoreline -- of the ocean and sparing no expense to restore the Gulf and surrounding ecosystems.

While it's not surprising that BP is shirking its obligations, the company's behavior reinforces the need for Congress to step up with strong legislation to protect oil industry workers, the environment, and our economy from another oil tragedy.