Deepwater Horizon Talks Stall as Groups Haggle over Diminishing Penalties
Hopes for a settlement between oil company BP and the US government over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill faded today, as both sides refused to budge over reparation negotiations. The talks stalled as BP continued to refuse to pay a requested $18 billion payout, which is down from the original $25 billion suggested when talks began. Either payout, rights groups say, would be miniscule compared to the environmental damage done by BP's negligence.
BP has thus far succeeded in avoiding the case going to trail where the company could face charges of gross negligence under the Clean Water Act.
Although the Department of Justice would seek a $25 billion settlement with BP in court, such a result would not likely resolve all civil and criminal damages and liabilities arising from the disaster, which spilled 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killed 11 workers, and "did untold damage to the ecosystem," according to rights group Public Citizen.
Either way, a settlement will likely keep penalties to a minimum and keep BP senior management out of jail.
As the two parties continue to haggle, clean up efforts for the spill continue two years on. A report released last week showed that nearly all the tar balls that washed up on the beaches around the Gulf by Hurricane Isaac originate from the BP spill.
According to the Sunday Times in the UK, a settlement deal may not happen until early next year.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Hopes for a settlement between oil company BP and the US government over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill faded today, as both sides refused to budge over reparation negotiations. The talks stalled as BP continued to refuse to pay a requested $18 billion payout, which is down from the original $25 billion suggested when talks began. Either payout, rights groups say, would be miniscule compared to the environmental damage done by BP's negligence.
BP has thus far succeeded in avoiding the case going to trail where the company could face charges of gross negligence under the Clean Water Act.
Although the Department of Justice would seek a $25 billion settlement with BP in court, such a result would not likely resolve all civil and criminal damages and liabilities arising from the disaster, which spilled 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killed 11 workers, and "did untold damage to the ecosystem," according to rights group Public Citizen.
Either way, a settlement will likely keep penalties to a minimum and keep BP senior management out of jail.
As the two parties continue to haggle, clean up efforts for the spill continue two years on. A report released last week showed that nearly all the tar balls that washed up on the beaches around the Gulf by Hurricane Isaac originate from the BP spill.
According to the Sunday Times in the UK, a settlement deal may not happen until early next year.
Hopes for a settlement between oil company BP and the US government over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill faded today, as both sides refused to budge over reparation negotiations. The talks stalled as BP continued to refuse to pay a requested $18 billion payout, which is down from the original $25 billion suggested when talks began. Either payout, rights groups say, would be miniscule compared to the environmental damage done by BP's negligence.
BP has thus far succeeded in avoiding the case going to trail where the company could face charges of gross negligence under the Clean Water Act.
Although the Department of Justice would seek a $25 billion settlement with BP in court, such a result would not likely resolve all civil and criminal damages and liabilities arising from the disaster, which spilled 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killed 11 workers, and "did untold damage to the ecosystem," according to rights group Public Citizen.
Either way, a settlement will likely keep penalties to a minimum and keep BP senior management out of jail.
As the two parties continue to haggle, clean up efforts for the spill continue two years on. A report released last week showed that nearly all the tar balls that washed up on the beaches around the Gulf by Hurricane Isaac originate from the BP spill.
According to the Sunday Times in the UK, a settlement deal may not happen until early next year.