WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to act to urge the Bush administration this week to buy more oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in case of supply disruptions linked to U.S. military action against terrorism.

According to a published report yesterday, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), chairman of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, is urging the administration to take advantage of current low oil prices and boost supply in the nation's emergency stockpile.

DELAWARE CITY, Del. -- Motiva Enterprises LLC senior management will begin testifying next week as part of a federal investigation into the cause of a July 17 fire and explosion that collapsed an acid tank at the company's Delaware City refinery, Reuters reported yesterday.

U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board spokesman Robert Wager subpoenaed 15 Motiva officials last month after they failed to respond voluntarily to requests for testimony regarding the incident, which left one worker missing and presumed dead, eight others seriously injured, and spilled a million gallons of sulfuric acid.