SPECIAL REPORT-Civil fine in Gulf spill could be $4,300 a barrel

[stevedeshazer]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2514399520100526?type=marketsNews

* Clean Water Act allows per-barrel fines for oil spillers

NEW YORK, May 25 (Reuters) - Just how many barrels of oil are gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon spill is a billion dollar question with implications that go beyond the environment. It could also help determine how much BP (BP.L) and others end up paying for the disaster.

A clause buried deep in the U.S. Clean Water Act may expose BP and others to civil fines that aren't limited to any finite cap -- unlike a $75 million limit on compensation for economic damages. The Act allows the government to seek civil penalties in court for every drop of oil that spills into U.S. navigable waters, including the area of BP's leaking well.

As a result, the U.S. government could seek to fine BP or others up to $4,300 for every barrel leaked into the U.S. Gulf, according to legal experts and official documents.

[Junkdrawer]

1. Let's see: 10 barrels a day for 90 days....

Well, you know how hard it is to get reliable estimates...

[joeybee12]

2. "could" "may" "might"

I'll believe it when I see it.

[bdamomma]

3. and in the meantime nothing gets done and we have articles like this

http://firedoglake.com/

[CountAllVotes]

4. est. 100,000,000 spilled

$43,000,000,000 fine I :think:

[closeupready]

5. They'll never pay - they'll do a reorganization.

n/t

[blindpig]

6. Not enough. n/t