Pete Domenici, chair of the Senate Energy Committee, announced on Tuesday that British Petroleum's bungling management of pipelines in Alaska's North Slope could jeopardize efforts to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Calling the events inexcusable, Domenici indicates that BPs failure could lead to reduced support in Congress for the controvertial ANWR drilling operation.

Meanwhile, the Anchorage Daily News is reporting that BP had been warned repeatedly for the harrasment and intimidation of pipeline-corrosion workers throughout 2003 and 2004 - actions which resulted in workers fearing to report critical environmental and safety concerns. Underlining the point, this was occuring while the oil giant was under federal probation on a felony count for failing to report the dumping of hazardous materials into a well at the Endicott field.

Apparently unsatisfied with their demostration of incompetence and disregard for public safety, BP also announced Tuesday that it was cleaning up an oil spill at the Port of Long Beach in California where 1,000 barrels of gas oil leaked from an underground pipeline.

Clearly the oil industry in general, and BP in particular, is not capable of carrying out a responsible drilling project in ANWR. While environmentalists condemn them for past damage, they may also have extend BP their thanks for inadvertently closing the door on future Alaskan drilling projects through a consistent and unwavering demostration of their incompetence.