US judge rejects BP's bid to cut Gulf of Mexico oil-spill fine
A US federal judge has rejected a bid by oil giant British Petroleum (BP) to cut the maximum civil fine it may have to pay for the Gulf of Mexico oil-spill disaster in 2012.
New Orleans Judge Carl Barbier on Thursday rejected BP’s appeal to pay $3,000 for each barrel spilled, which is equal to a maximum of $9.57 billion fine one-third lower than the possible penalty.
Barbier left the industry potentially accountable to pay the fine of $13.7 billion under the federal Clean Water Act which means $4,300 per each barrel.
Barbier argued that accepting BP's position "would invalidate nearly every agency's attempt to inflate civil penalties that can be sought in federal court."
The court has yet to decide how much the petroleum industry should pay as final penalty for its role in the worst environmental disaster in US history.
The oil spill began with an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling oil rig in April 2010.
Eleven workers were killed and hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spilled out of a burst underwater pipe into the Gulf of Mexico for almost the entire summer.
The spill resulted in an enormous oil slick, visible from space and affecting wildlife in an area of 68,000 square miles (180,000 km2).
Barbier, who earlier found BP had been grossly negligent leading up to the explosion, agreed with the government that the US Environmental Protection Agency could raise the maximum to account for inflation and was required by Congress to do so.
BP disagrees with the court decision and is considering its legal options. The company argues it already faces $40 billion in oil spill costs.
SB/AT
US economy flashes recession warnings
Protests across US over pointless 43-day shutdown
US shutdown ends after 43 days
Satellite images indicate Israel entrenching a permanent military presence in Gaza
US-led meeting talks implementation of ‘phase two’ of Gaza ceasefire, ignoring Israeli violations
Iran’s subsidized currency allocations at over $42 in Mar-Dec: CBI
VIDEO | Locals march in eastern France after gas explosion kills two children
Iran wins double gold at world age-group Blitz Chess in Antalya
Two former Palestinian prisoners recount sexual abuse in Israeli detention
Iran cuts steel imports amid surge in domestic output
VIDEO | Trump’s comments on Golan Heights spark outrage among Syrians
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
