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                BP Nears Settlement with US Over 2010 Oil Spill

   by VOA News

   The British oil giant BP said it is in "advanced talks" with U.S.
   authorities on a criminal settlement for its role in the 2010 oil rig
   explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst-ever offshore oil spill in
   U.S. history.
   News organizations said Attorney General Eric Holder will reveal
   details of the settlement at a Thursday news conference in New Orleans.
   Officials said the company could pay a record criminal fine of over $1
   billion.
   Eleven people were killed when an oil rig operated by BP and its
   corporate partners exploded. The blast touched off an underwater leak
   that resulted in nearly five million barrels of oil spewing into the
   gulf over a three -month period.
   The U.S. government said the company violated environmental
   regulations.
   The spill also triggered a string of civil lawsuits from individuals
   and companies that were affected as the oil spread in the gulf.
   The Associated Press said BP will plead guilty to obstruction for lying
   about the amount of oil that was pouring out of the damaged well and
   that two employees face manslaughter charges over the deaths of the 11
   workers.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/article/1546705.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/article/1546705.html