Recusal policy reveals oil industry-gov't ties

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OFFSHORE_DRILLING_REVOLVING_DOOR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-07-26-15-12-49

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ties between offshore oil and gas companies and the agency that regulates them persist, nearly a year after the Obama administration announced an overhaul of ethics rules to deter such cozy relationships, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

About 1 of every 5 employees involved in offshore inspections in the Gulf of Mexico has been recused from some duties because they could come in contact with a family member or friend working for a company they regulate.

Ten recent hires are barred for two years from performing work where they could be in a position of policing their previous employer - a company or contractor operating offshore.

The numbers come from recusal forms filed with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation. Roiled by a major offshore oil spill and a series of internal investigations, the agency instituted a new ethics policy last year designed to identify and prevent possible conflicts of interest before they arise.