House OKs new standards for offshore drilling

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Companies that drill for oil in U.S. waters would be required to pay 100% of spill-related damages under a bill approved Friday in the House of Representatives. Written in response to the BP oil spill, the bill removes a $75 million liability cap now in place; requires independent certification of equipment and sets up other new offshore-drilling standards; and …

Watertown delegation support $2.3 million for fire services

Supporters of the $2.3 million said that the cuts would hurt the ability to respond to dangerous hazardous material situations and to train recruits to become firefighters. They noted that the $2.3 million would come from an assessment on insurance companies and not from taxpayers’ pockets.