Now there’s the Big Oil that we know and love. It’s not unlike what we observed during the disaster in the Gulf but back then, the Obama administration was tripping over itself to help play the game. Even this time, the federal team seems to be comfortable with Exxon and keeping things secret. Well done by governor Schweitzer on his move to remove the state from this charade.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer was to travel to Billings Friday to announce the opening of an alternate state-run oil spill coordination center.

Exxon Mobil security workers have closely guarded access to the command post on the second floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings, where the EPA and other federal agencies also are stationed. Attempts by The Associated Press to talk to government officials there have been denied.

“The state will no longer have a presence at the Crowne Plaza because Exxon Mobil tells us they can’t respect the open government laws we have in Montana,” Schweitzer told The Associated Press. “I can’t allow state employees to be in meetings at the Crowne Plaza talking about this cleanup without having it open.”