The US Supreme Court rejected BP and Anadarko Petroleum’s appeal relating to billions of dollars owed from Clean Water Act fines for 2010’s Deepwater Horizon spill, according to news reports.
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Image from USCG. |
Rulings from Louisiana US District Judge Carl Barbier will stand that found BP to blame for the spill, ultimately facing a maximum fine of US$13.7 billion.
In September 2014, Judge Barbier ruled that BP showed gross negligence and willful misconduct. BP contractors Transocean and Halliburton were also found negligent.
BP is now facing a maximum fine of $13.7 billion under the US Clean Water Act for its part in the infamous oil spill that killed 11 people. Anadarko, 25% partner in the Macondo well, is facing a fine of more than $1 billion, according to news reports.
In January, Judge Barbier ruled that BP’s Macondo well discharged 3.19 MMbbl into the Gulf of Mexico, and under the Clean Water Act, the maximum penalty under is $1100/bbl for simple negligence and $4300/bbl for gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The court relied on expert testimony to determine the amount of oil that was spilled, since there was not exact way to know.
BP was assigned 67% liability in the spill. Contractor Transocean was assigned 30%, and Halliburton 3%.
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