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Charlie Riedel/AP/Press Association Images

BP is still fighting penalties over the worst oil spill in US history

The company could be fined up to $13.7 billion for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

A US JUDGE has rejected oil giant BP’s bid to cut the potential $13.7 billion (€12.1 billion) fine it could be hit with for the catastrophic 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill – the worst in US history.

The company tried to have the penalty trimmed from $4,300 per barrel spilled to a maximum $3,000 per barrel after it was ruled negligent for causing the environmental disaster.

US District Court Judge Carl Barbier previously ruled BP was liable for the leaking of 3.19 million barrels after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig blowout, which killed 11 workers.

That figure was less than the US government’s estimate that 4.19 million barrels of oil were spilled, an amount which would have put the maximum fine in the civil case at about $18 billion (€15.9 billion).

BP has already agreed penalties and payouts of over $40 billion (€35.3 billion) for the spill including a $14 billion cleanup bill and $4.5 billion settlement with the government to resolve criminal charges.

Last year the company reported an underlying profit of $12.1 billion (€10.7 billion), only slightly down on the 2013 figure of $13.4 billion (€11.8 billion).

Gulf Spill Where's the Oil AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Fine still to be decided

The court is yet to decide the full civil penalty the oil company will have to pay in the case, which was brought under the US Clean Water Act.

Last year, the US National Wildlife Federation found the spill had done long-lasting harm to the populations of dolphins, sea turtles, tuna and other animals that lived in the affected region.

Gulf Oil Spill BP Moving On Gerald Herbert / AP/Press Association Images Gerald Herbert / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

The spill lasted for 87 days before the oil well was finally capped and it was estimated over 1,500km of the county’s coastline was contaminated during the fallout.

- with AFP

READ: Blast at California refinery injures four people >

READ: The most expensive offshore oil project in European history is in the pipeline >

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22 Comments
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    Mute Diaspora'd
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    Feb 6th 2023, 11:34 PM

    Why is it still called a “Bank Holiday” in Ireland instead of what it is …a “Public Holiday”?

    The term “Bank Holiday” really smacks of bygone British colonialism.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_holiday

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    Mute Fuji Hakayito
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    Feb 7th 2023, 2:40 AM

    @Diaspora’d: and your English language post doesn’t?

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    Mute Shedonny
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    Feb 7th 2023, 8:01 AM

    I still think that the Holiday should have been on 1 May, as it is in many other countries including our EU partners, to pay tribute to the huge contribution of the men and women workers who have financed this country with their taxes for decades.
    Weather would have been better in May too!
    Instead of dedicating it to a religious figure who may or may not have existed.

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    Mute Shaner Mac
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    Feb 7th 2023, 8:16 AM

    @Shedonny: Er, there is already a May bank holiday…

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    Mute Rob Jones
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    Feb 7th 2023, 8:30 AM

    @Shedonny: February not bad. Just coming out of depressing January. Something to look forward to. If not February, then July as we have one in May, June, and August.

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Feb 7th 2023, 6:58 AM

    Clicked on the first option each time. Got 2/10.

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    Mute Gisèle Ní Mhoinséal
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    Feb 7th 2023, 10:37 PM

    The cloth is left out on 31 January – the eve of St Brigid, not 1 February.

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