Spill Panel Found No Evidence BP Put Cost Over Safety

The U.S. panel investigating the BP Plc oil spill found no evidence decisions were made to put profit ahead of safety on the drilling rig, its co-chairman said.

Environmental groups and lawmakers have said BP cut corners to reduce costs as the company sought to complete the doomed well that was $58.4 million over budget and move the Deepwater Horizon rig leased from Transocean Ltd. to another project. The U.S. House in July passed legislation that would bar BP from offshore drilling leases based on safety lapses.