Environmental Groups Oppose BP Settlement in 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Nikki Buskey - HoumaToday
go to original October 23, 2012

Damage has not been rectified, environmental groups say. (Associated Press)

Environmental groups are crying foul after recent reports that BP has offered to settle environmental damage fines related to the 2010 Gulf oil spill for $16 billion to $18 billion.

John Kostyack, vice president of wildlife conservation at the National Wildlife Federation, called the offer inadequate, saying it was less than half of the company’s total liability to repair the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

National Wildlife Federation officials estimated BP should face a liability of more than $50 billion for its damage to the Gulf of Mexico.

“BP should not be let off the hook with a low settlement and allowed to shortchange the Gulf,” Kostyack said. “A low settlement leaves the Gulf of Mexico more vulnerable to further deterioration from natural and man-made disasters, as well as demonstrates to polluters that they will not be held fully accountable.”

There are two major sources of environmental fines BP will face as part of the settlement. BP can be fined from $1,000 to $4,300 per barrel leaked for violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Just a month ago, the Justice Department announced in a court filing it would pursue holding BP responsible for “gross negligence and willful misconduct” in the spill, which would result in the heftiest fines under the Clean Water Act.

That could add up to fines of more than $20 billion, 80 percent of which will go back to the Gulf Coast for environmental and economic restoration projects.

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