National Oil Spill Commission to Conduct First Public Meeting on the Gulf Disaster

WASHINGTON, July 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The national commission investigating the cause of the Gulf Coast disaster has announced it will conduct its first public meeting July 12 and 13 in New Orleans to gain insights from both experts and the public on the cause and effects of the disaster.

The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon and Offshore Drilling will hear directly from the people of the Gulf Coast whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon spill.

Commission Co-Chairs Bob Graham and William Reilly, who will chair next week's public meeting, encouraged Gulf Coast residents to participate, saying their experiences "will be the foundation for our recommendations to the American people, the President, and the Congress."

On-site registration to attend the meeting opens at 7 a.m. each day. Seating is limited. Attendees must register on site each morning. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Large bags are discouraged and bags will be checked at the discretion of security. Registration for public comments opens at 7 a.m. each day.

Gulf Coast residents who cannot attend the hearing are encouraged to provide their input on the Commission's Public Comment Page at www.oilspillcommission.gov.

SOURCE National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon and Offshore Drilling