Lawmakers say oil company plans have same flaws

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two congressmen reviewing oil spill response plans of the nation's five largest oil companies say they are nearly identical - and are all unprepared for an oil spill.

Rep. Ed Markey, chairman of a House Energy panel, said the plans "cite identical response capabilities and tout identical ineffective equipment." The committee looked at plans of BP along with those of ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell Oil.

Markey said at a hearing that two plans list the phone number for the same dead expert, and three include references to protecting walruses - which don't live in the Gulf.

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman called them "cookie cutter plans," and said they are as unprepared as BP was to respond to a spill.