The New York Times said that the report is "unlikely to carry much weight in influencing the Department of Justice, which is considering criminal and civil charges related to the spill," and described it as "a public relations exercise" and a "probable legal strategy as it prepares to defend itself against possible federal charges, penalties and hundreds of pending lawsuits."
ニューヨークタイムズは、報告書が「流出に関連した犯人と民事訴訟を考慮している司法省の影響を重視していないようにみえる」と言い、それを「広報活動」であり、「連邦の告発、罰金、何百もの係争中の訴訟から自分自身を守るための法的戦略」だと言った。