U.S. sanctions BP, contractors for Gulf oil spill

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

The U.S. offshore drilling regulator on Wednesday formally issued sanctions against BP and the major contractors involved in the 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and spewed more than 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The newly formed Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement filed 15 "incidents of noncompliance" (INCs) to the companies. It did not release details of how much the companies may face in fines.

(snip)
BP, owner of the ruptured Macondo well, received the lion's share of the sanctions, with seven notices for violations ranging from failure to protect health and property to failing to keep the well under control at all times.

In a first for the department, BP's contractors Transocean, which owned the Deepwater Horizon rig, and Halliburton, which carried out cementing on the well, also face sanctions.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/us-oil-spill-sanctions-idUSTRE79B7P420111012

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/13/bp-fines-gulf-oil-spill

BP faces up to $45m in fines over Gulf oil spill
The notices for BP, Transocean and Halliburton mark the first time the government has gone after contractors in addition to oil companies

[leveymg]

1. Under the original statute, the Oil Pollution Act, BP stood to be fined $80 billion. What happened?

Looks like they have friends in Washington who "mitigated" that.

[wordpix]

2. read article carefully, says Interior sanctions are separate from Justice Dept. probe

"Any fines imposed by the drilling agency would be separate from the ongoing Justice Department lawsuits against BP and Transocean." snip

BP and friends may be fined by both Interior and Justice Dept. Let's hope.

Second article posted says a separate $21 Billion in fines may be imposed for environmental violations under Clean Water Act.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Nice thing about the gov't being broke, they are forced to go hunting for money

and sometimes they even have to go after the rich bad guys.

[wordpix]

4. yeah, if these were flush times with BushCo in charge, BP would get a little wrist slap instead

At least things are moving forward, although VERY slowly.

[alp227]

6. The Guardian reports that fines may be up to $45 million

"BP and partners face $45m in fines over Gulf oil spill"

[ellisonz]

5. Deepwater Horizon will be a great election issue.