EDF president: BP criminal settlement money encouraging, but full justice still needed

Published November 16, 2012 in Ecosystems

• Tweet
• Print
• Email

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Justice and BP announced they reached a $4.5 billion settlement related to criminal charges stemming from the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. The majority of it will be dedicated to Gulf restoration and river diversion projects.

However, this is only the first step in the pursuit of full accountability for the Deepwater Horizon disaster, as BP still faces pending civil penalties under both the Clean Water and Oil Pollution Acts. 

"It is deeply gratifying to see the Justice Department stand firmly on the side of the citizens and environment of the Gulf Coast...BP broke two major laws that have two very important purposes, and they should pay for violating both," Krupp said. "The Gulf Coast depends on full justice being served.”

Read more:

• Our work on restoring the Mississippi River Delta
• See Krupp's full statement
• Press release: Environmental groups praise historic criminal settlement
• From The New York Times: Criminality in the Gulf spill
• From The Los Angeles Times: BP fined, charged in oil that showed 'profit over prudence'