Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Statement of Committee Composition
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Mr. Warner M. Williams

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, individuals with current and directly relevant industry experience in the management and operation of offshore exploration and production drilling operations, including experience managing offshore company health, safety, and environment, policies and programs.

To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Warner M. Williams is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because of investments he holds.

As his biographical summary makes clear, Mr. Williams has more than 35 years of experience in offshore industry drilling operations in the United States and abroad. Included in his experience has been recent corporate responsibility for health, safety, and environment that is directly representative of current operations. We believe that Mr. Williams can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current expertise in offshore drilling operations and safety as Mr. Williams who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Dr. Karlene Roberts

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, individuals with research expertise and practical experience in high reliability organizations that manage risks that can have catastrophic consequences in a variety of industrial contexts and who has studied oil and gas industry operations in the United States and abroad.

To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Dr. Karlene Roberts is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that she has a conflict of interest because of investments she holds.

As her biographical summary makes clear, in addition to her PhD in industrial psychology, Dr. Roberts has extensive experience in studying and consulting in industrial sectors including commercial marine transportation, healthcare, railroads, the oil and gas industry, commercial aviation, banking, military operations, and community emergency services. Dr. Roberts is currently the Director of the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management, University of California at Berkeley, and has conducted twenty years of research on the design and management of high reliability organizations (HROs). We believe that Dr. Roberts can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of expertise in high reliability organizations and experience analyzing the oil and gas industry in the United States and abroad, as Dr. Roberts who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.

Committee Membership Roster Comments

Mr. Kenneth E. Arnold stepped down from the committee effective 7/14/14.

Mr. Warner Williams was nominated and approved as a commitee member on 12/10/2014.