Markey seeks quick Capitol Hill appearance by new BP CEO Dudley

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is pressing new BP CEO Bob Dudley to appear before the panel in November or December.

A hearing with Dudley – who takes over Friday for departed CEO Tony Hayward – could be one of Markey’s last chances to headline a questioning of the company responsible for the massive Gulf of Mexico spill.

The GOP may re-take the House in the mid-term elections.

Markey chairs the Energy and Environment Subcommittee and sent a letter to Dudley Friday asking him to testify.

The letter says that Dudley – who was BP’s managing director – had rebuffed a request to appear before the subcommittee in September, citing the need to ensure a smooth transition to CEO.

Markey, in Friday’s letter, lists several reasons why Dudley should appear this fall, noting that BP in September completed in internal report on the Gulf accident, and this week announced creation of a new safety division that will report directly to Dudley.

The letter asks that Dudley appear before the panel to “address critical matters of safety in BP’s operations.”