Amount Quote by John Chafee
“I do not think there should be a limit on the rig's liability, because they are sitting on top of unlimited amounts of oil, and thus, there could be an explosion occur that could do untold damage. ... The amount of damage that an offshore oil rig can do is infinite.”
About This Quote
Unlimited oil reserves make offshore rigs a massive risk; limiting liability could prevent catastrophic loss.
In simple terms: Rigs can cause endless damage if not held accountable.
Key Takeaway
Enforce liability limits on rigs.
Themes
environment
risk
accountability
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
policy
warning
When to use this quote
- offshore drilling
- environmental regulation
- insurance
- public safety
Key Concepts
oil industry
legal policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance industry growth with environmental safety?
- What incentives could improve rig safety?
A Different Perspective
Liability limits may discourage investment in safety.
![“There have been more than 30,000 oil wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico in the last 50 years. This is the first time something like this has ever happened [BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill], and we need to get to the bottom of it, find out what happened, make sure it doesn't happen again. But I…” quote by Haley Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/729/haley-barbour-31649_bottom_there-have-been-more-than-30-000-oil-wel_1166670.jpg)
