The former head of pipeline-corrosion monitoring for BP in Alaska pleaded the Fifth amendment and refused to testify as lawmakers questioned company officials over the cause of the massive oil spill in March this year.
Lawmakers said that the company's lapses were particularly unacceptable given the record profits in the industry and the relatively inexpensive measures that might have prevented the oil spill.
BP exceutive apologized and promised to fix operational lapses.
With Congress aiming to wrap up its session by the end of the month, the hearing was not expected to result in any specific legislative action. It afforded lawmakers an opportunity to talk tough ahead of November elections.
Robert A. Malone, head of BP PLC's US operations said that they had falled short of the standadrds they held for themselves and vowed to manage Prudhoe Bay in "a safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive way", while conceding that the company's reputation had suffered.
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