Recusal policy reveals oil industry’s ongoing ties to government

Ties between offshore oil and gas companies and the agency that regulates them persist, nearly a year after the Obama administration announced an overhaul of ethics rules to deter such cozy relationships, documents obtained by The Associated Press show. About one of every five employees involved in offshore inspections in the Gulf of Mexico has been recused from some duties because they could come in contact with a family member or friend working for a company they regulate. Ten recent hires are barred for two years from performing work where they could be in a position of policing their previous employer—a company or contractor operating offshore. The numbers come from recusal forms filed with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation. Roiled by a major offshore oil spill and a series of internal investigations, the agency instituted a new ethics policy last year designed to identify and prevent possible conflicts of interest before they arise. Copies of the forms submitted by more than 100 inspectors, engineers and permit reviewers in five Gulf Coast offices were obtained by the AP under the Freedom of Information Act. Personal information, such as the names of the employees, their friends and their family members, was blacked out to protect privacy. But the companies with ties to government workers were disclosed, and they represent a who’s who of the offshore oil and gas industry, from majors like Chevron, Shell and BP to smaller companies such as W&T Offshore Inc., Ankor Energy and Hilcorp Energy Co.