President Obama named the former lieutenant governor to the commission last month. Its brief is to determine the root causes of the rig disaster, recommend ways to prevent a repeat and ensure the safety of offshore drilling.
Ulmer said she sees part of her role as bringing Alaska's experience to the attention of the commission, and gaining by any applicable lessons. She listened to Alaskans Wednesday and plans other sessions in Alaska before the commission's first meeting.
That makes sense. Ulmer won't be starting from scratch next week in New Orleans. She has her own experience from days on an Exxon Valdez settlement commission and from knowledgeable contacts throughout Alaska's oil, other business, academic and environmental circles.
That ability to listen will be key. She and her colleagues have a stiff challenge with a six-month timetable, and they're going to have a lot of information to sift and comprehend before they draw their conclusions -- which may influence U.S. oil and gas exploration, national energy policy and the economies of states from the Gulf to Alaska.
That's a job they need to do without fear or favor. We're not going to stop producing oil in the United States; we'll continue to have offshore operations. The question before the commission is to identify -- with the help of other investigations -- exactly what happened and exactly what has to happen now to guarantee that companies do it right and that regulators are honest, thorough and remember who they work for -- the people of the United States, not the companies they're paid to monitor.
That Ulmer is listening and learning is no surprise. She'll have plenty more of it to do in the Gulf. Alaskans can take heart that she's taking well-schooled perspectives about oil and government as she heads south.
BOTTOM LINE: Ulmer and her colleagues on the Gulf spill commission have a lot of looking and listening sessions ahead.
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