New York: A US judge said Thursday energy giant BP faces a maximum fine of $13.7 billion for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a sum reduced by several billion dollars.
A fine of up to $18 billion had originally been set as a possible penalty, based on government estimates that 4.19 million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico.
But US federal court judge Carl Barbier said Thursday in New Orleans the penalty should be based on only 3.19 million barrels.
A final penalty will be determined beginning Tuesday at a trial to settle an exact sum.
In September, Barbier concluded that the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig blowout, which killed 11 and spilled millions of barrels of oil into Gulf waters, occurred after inadequate care in drilling.
In pleading guilty to the spill, BP agreed to pay the government $4.5 billion to settle criminal charges. It also agreed in 2012 to settle damage claims by businesses and individuals for about $7.8 billion.
Meanwhile the company has doled out some $10 billion to companies, individuals and local authorities who agreed not to file suit and has spent around $14 billion on cleaning the badly damaged coast.
The National Wildlife Federation said in April that scientific studies on 14 different types of creatures affected by the spill show that long-lasting harm was done to dolphins, sea turtles, tuna, loons and other animals in the region.
A fine of up to $18 billion had originally been set as a possible penalty, based on government estimates that 4.19 million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico.
But US federal court judge Carl Barbier said Thursday in New Orleans the penalty should be based on only 3.19 million barrels.
In September, Barbier concluded that the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig blowout, which killed 11 and spilled millions of barrels of oil into Gulf waters, occurred after inadequate care in drilling.
Advertisement
Meanwhile the company has doled out some $10 billion to companies, individuals and local authorities who agreed not to file suit and has spent around $14 billion on cleaning the badly damaged coast.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
On Hottest Days, Hospitalisation Risk Doubled For Sugar, BP Patients: Study Up To 2,000 Gallons Oil May Spill Into Gulf Of Mexico As Barge Hits US Bridge Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, Watch 5, Watch 4 Series Get Blood Pressure Monitoring and ECG in India: How to Use Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Is Earth Orbiting Sun Or A Point In Space? Read This Fascinating Analysis Homeless Man, Carrying Knives, Shot Dead By Cops Outside Republican Event 220-Foot NF 2024 Asteroid Racing Towards Earth, NASA Alerts 4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.