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December 16, 2010

U.S. Sues BP, 8 Other Firms for Gulf Coast Oil Spill
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The U.S. Department of Justice has filed suit against the oil giant BP
and eight other companies over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The
government is seeking unspecified damages under the Clean Water Act and
Oil Pollution Act for cleanup costs and environmental devastation.
Attorney General Eric Holder unveiled the case yesterday in Washington.

Eric Holder: "The United States alleges violations of federal safety and
operational regulations, including a failure to take the necessary
precautions to secure the Macondo well prior to the April 20th
explosion, failure to utilize the safest drilling technology to monitor
the well’s condition, failure to maintain continuous surveillance of the
well, and failure to utilize and to maintain equipment and materials
that were available and necessary to ensure the safety and protection of
personnel, property, natural resources as well as the environment."

The suit marks the federal government’s first legal filing in its
ongoing probe into the spill. More lawsuits are expected as the
investigation proceeds. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Lisa Jackson said the government is seeking compensation
for restoring the Gulf Coast region.

Lisa Jackson: "This is about getting a fair deal for the region that
suffered enormous consequences from this disaster. And it’s also about
securing the future of the Gulf Coast. Ensuring accountability
strengthens our ongoing efforts to help Gulf Coast communities get their
lives and livelihoods back on track. The government’s complaint seeks
civil penalties against those responsible for the spill and will lay the
foundation for securing what is needed to restore the Gulf."



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