'Make BP Pay!': Gulf Residents Decry Oil Giant as 'Deepwater Horizon' Trial Opens

[ashling]

Prosecutors open with "scathing attack" on company behind devastating disaster

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Federal prosecutors opened with a "scathing attack" on the oil giant, Agence France-Presse reports, arguing that BP is guilty of deliberately cutting corners on normal safety procedures on the Deepwater rig—amounting to "gross negligence" and "willful misconduct".

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"This is not just about something that's going to take decades to clean up," said Chris Canfield, vice president of Gulf of Mexico conservation and restoration for the National Audubon Society. "This is about making sure that bad actors are punished for a series of decisions that put profits ahead of people and the environment."

The civil trial at the federal courthouse in New Orleans is designed to determine the direct cause for the disaster, and how much oil was spilled. The court's authority to define the amount of spilled oil the company is responsible for will be used to calculate the size of environmental fines.

BP has previously settled thousands of lawsuits linked to the disaster out of court, including a $4.5 billion plea deal with the US government in which BP pleaded guilty to criminal charges and a $7.8 billion settlement with people and businesses affected by the spill.

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"The Gulf Coast is still reeling, and people are still waiting for BP to be held accountable for the largest environmental disaster in our nation's history," said Canfield. "The people of the Gulf Coast don't feel justice has been served. There is much work to be done."

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/02/25-2

[lonestarnot]

1. And pay a whole fucking bunch. Something that they will actually feel.

[RobertEarl]

2. It isn't over yet, it seems

Deep down at the bottom where the drill hit dirt, at over 5,000 feet below the Gulf's surface, it is bubbling. Not oil so much as some kind of white goo. Theory is that it is methane hydrates. A frozen concoction of mud and water and methane gas that has lain undisturbed for who knows how many years.

The occurrence of this methane is, some think, a prelude to more and more. Seems like the ground is cracking from the pressure of oil still trying to rise from the vast pool BP drilled into.

So it may be a long long time before the whole situation comes to an end. Bet BP would just as soon get this case over with before something else blows.

[rustydog]

3. Now we may see just how much BP cares about the "small people"