Executive admits BP’s responsibility for Gulf spill

Former BP America President Lamar McKay acknowledged in a New Orleans courtroom today that BP was responsible for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and pleaded guilty to negligently causing the deaths of 11 rig workers, but he insisted there were other causes and culpable parties as well. “We agree that we’re part of the responsibility for this tragic accident. We apologized for that,” The Houston Chronicle quotes McKay as saying during his second day on the stand in the civil trial in federal court over the disaster. McKay was asked about the felony manslaughter and obstruction charges BP pleaded guilty to. He also was asked whether the Deepwater Horizon rig was known in the industry for its safety. “Up until the accident, yes,” he responded. McKay received a promotion effective Jan. 1 of this year. He now heads BP’s Upstream unit. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier is expected to view video footage of former BP CEO Tony Hayward’s deposition in the case today, and more witnesses are set to be called, including an energy industry veteran. The full story, as well as recaps from the previous two days of the trial, can be found here.