Though it has been nearly five years since the BP oil spill flooded the Gulf with more than 200 gallons of crude oil, litigation continues in the case and alarming new discoveries are still being made as to the impact of the spill. Recently, a federal judge in New Orleans rejected BP’s effort to cap its fines stemming from the 2010 spill. BP sought to lower the fines by nearly a third of the massive penalty that federal prosecutors are seeking. The court rejected this attempt, but has not made a final determination as to how much BP will pay for the disaster.
Judge Carl Barbier of the U.S. District Court in New Orleans ruled on Tuesday, February 19, that BP could pay a maximum penalty of up to $4,300 for each barrel of oil spilled into the Gulf. The fines are to be applied under the Clean Water Act, the federal law governing water pollution. This means that BP could face a maximum penalty of $13.7 billion in fines.
BP originally asked the court to cap the fines at $3,000 per barrel, which was the maximum set in 1990. However, prosecutors countered that the Environmental Protection Agency and Coast Guard rules required adjustments for inflation. The court accepted this argument and affirmed the cap amount.
It is anticipated that Judge Barbier, the federal court judge overseeing the case, will make a final ruling as to how much BP will pay in the coming months. BP is considering all its legal options as it contests the court’s ruling.
In other oil spill news, a report published in PLOS ONE journal revealed some alarming facts about the potential impact on the spill on marine life in the Gulf. The report found that during the period from February 2010, two months before the spill, to August 2014, an unusual number of dolphins died. It is believed this unusual mortality event is still ongoing. The study found that some 1,300 dolphins became stranded along Gulf Coast beaches during the time frame studied, which is the longest lasting period of mass dolphin death ever seen along the Gulf. Of the stranded dolphins, over 94 percent died.
The study stopped short of declaring the die-offs definitely linked to the oil spill. Although the high number of dolphin deaths seems consistent with dolphins exposed to mass quantities of oil, scientists cannot yet prove a concrete link. BP responded to the findings by claiming that mass dolphin deaths are not all that uncommon and the deaths during the study period are in no way linked to the oil spill. Scientists will continue to study the impact of the oil spill on marine life throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
Barrett Law PLLC: Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys Assisting Spill Victims
The BP oil spill inflicted serious financial and physical injuries upon thousands of those living and working in the Gulf Coast. The spill sadly continues to have a devastating impact on the environment and its full effects may not be evident for years to come. While the fine lodged against BP is a step towards achieving justice, many continue to suffer due to the spill. If you were harmed by the BP oil spill and have yet to receive full compensation for your losses, the Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC can help. Our skilled attorneys have assisted countless oil spill victims and can do the same for you. Call our exceptional oil spill attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.
