Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama will sign an executive order establishing a presidential commission to investigate the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, an administration official said Monday.
The official, who did not want to speak on the record ahead of an announcement, said it hasn't been determined when Obama will make the announcement or when he'll sign the executive order.
"The commission will take into account the investigations under way concerning the causes of the spill and explore a range of issues," the official said. In particular, the commission's inquiry will focus on industry practices, rig safety, regulatory regimes, federal governmental oversight - including the structure and functions of the Minerals Management Service, which oversees offshore drilling operations - and environmental review and other protections, the official said.
Last week, Obama harshly criticized the companies involved in the spill, which threatens to become one of the nation's worst environmental disasters, and pledged to break up what he called the cozy relationship between regulators and the oil industry.
Democratic Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts quickly endorsed Obama's planned commission.
"Whether it's a nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island or an oil blowout one mile deep, appointing an independent review panel is critical to reduce the risks of future accidents," said a statement from Markey, chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Updated: 7:08 p.m.
From CNN Politics
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There should be a national commission to study his administration. He has caused far more damage to this country than BP every could.
This is ridiculous! There are going to be hundreds of Congressional hearings on this! Is he trying to control the whole process so he can conceal the ineptness of his Administration?
I can hardly wait to hear the propoganda this sham puts out.
It's about time he does something. What took him so long to decide to have the spill investigated. What is more important, shaking hands with our enemies...
Good luck Mr. President. So far, nobody has managed to penetrate big oil and its henchmen to expose them for what they really are. I live in Houston. Everyone here knows what they are.
But when you attempt to poke your nose in to the illicit activites of the oil companies and the Halliburtons and the KBR's, you are going to run in to a wall of silence reguarding their sins that will be defended unto death. You might have better luck bringing Wall Street under control, but I doubt it.
Folks, time to admit we are have truly become a nation of the corporation, by the corporation, and for the corporation. This will not be reversed without it getting quite ugly. We citizens mean nothing anymore.
I see Barry's going to duck the primarys tomorrow to shoot hoops in Youngstown.
And who exactly will be investigating the investigators?
When will BP (Arco) raise gasoline prices? How much?
I think he has as many commissions as czars now.
That retiring manager (close friend of Cheney/Haliburton) needs to be strung up by any appendages hanging between his legs !!!! He's a low life and has basically helped with the destruction of our resources beyond what anyone knows yet!!!!!
NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE. Don't let him retire, FIRE HIM – and strip all his retirement benefits from him. Imprison him. Stone him. Cut him and put him in a tank of hungry sharks.
I can't even think of enough horrible things that should happen to that guy !!!