Conservationists Hit BP With $19 Billion Clean Water Act Lawsuit

[Ed Barrow]

Source: Environmental News Service

In the largest citizen enforcement action ever taken under the Clean Water Act, the Center for Biological Diversity is suing BP and Transocean Ltd., for illegally spilling more than 100 million gallons of oil and other pollutants into the Gulf of Mexico. The suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The Center is seeking the maximum possible penalty against BP for the spill that began April 20 when the oil rig Deepwater Horizon, owned by Transocean and leased by BP, exploded and caught fire off the coast of Louisiana about 50 miles southeast of the Mississippi Delta, killing 11 men.

...

If BP's violations are found to have been the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct, the maximum fine is $4,300 per barrel spilled. At this rate, the company is already liable for approximately $11 billion in Clean Water Act penalties.

If the spill continues through August 1, 2010, BP's liability will be approximately $19 billion. The penalties will be paid to the U.S. Treasury and will be available for Gulf coast restoration efforts.




Read more: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2010/2010-06-21-091.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[aquart]

2. Make them suffer.

[dipsydoodle]

3. LBN ? That happened last Friday

NewsCore) - The Center for Biological Diversity on Friday filed the largest citizen enforcement action ever taken under the Clean Water Act against BP and Transocean Ltd over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The suit was filed in a New Orleans federal court and is seeking the maximum penalty under the act, which could amount to more than $19 billion.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/news/lawsuit-seeks-$19-billion-from-bp-dpgonc-20100618-mh_8194490

[eowyn_of_rohan]

4. Awesome - Keep the lawsuits coming