Free Republic

The governor of Alaska has questioned whether BP misled it over the condition of its pipelines, given the recent leak from the Prudhoe Bay oilfield. The shutdown at the site is expected to cost Alaska $6.4m (£3.4m) a day in tax revenues and this has prompted a government state-wide hiring freeze. The closure followed "numerous" satisfactory maintenance reports from BP, governor Frank Murkowski said. He said BP would be "held responsible" for its earlier management of the site. "BP must get the entire Prudhoe Bay field back up and running as soon as is safely possible," he said.