Judge Puts BP's Top Fine at $13.7 Billion; U.S. Sought $18 Billion

Judge Puts BP's Top Fine at $13.7 Billion; U.S. Sought $18 Billion

By Margaret Cronin Fisk 2 hours ago

BP Plc (BP/) faces a maximum fine of $13.7 billion after a U.S. judge ruled that the company dumped 3.19 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 -- less than the U.S. government had calculated. 

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier today rejected the U.S. government's 4.2 million barrel estimate of the spill size, decreasing the potential maximum fine from $18 billion.


Barbier, who conducted a trial without a jury over who was at fault for the disaster, previously found BP's exploration unit acted with gross negligence in causing the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. 


Today's ruling on the spill's size sets the stage for a trial next week at which Barbier will determine the amount of the fines, based on the law's provision for as much as $4,300 per barrel released and factors such as what BP did to minimize or mitigate the effects of the disaster.

The London-based oil company has set aside $3.5 billion to cover the pollution fines. BP has already spent more than $28 billion in spill response, cleanup and claims.

The company had taken a $43 billion charge to cover all the costs, according to an Oct. 28 earnings statement. The ultimate cost is "subject to significant uncertainty," BP said.

BP didn't extend the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill by lying about its size or misrepresenting the efforts to contain it, Barbier also found today. 

Geoff Morrell, a BP spokesman, didn't immediately return a phone call and e-mail for comment on the ruling. 

Macondo Blowout

The blowout of the Macondo well off the coast of Louisiana in April 2010 killed 11 people aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and spewed oil for almost three months into waters that touch the shores of five states. 

The accident sparked thousands of lawsuits against BP, as well as Vernier, Switzerland-based Transocean Ltd. (RIG), owner of the rig that burned and sank, and Houston-based Halliburton Co. (HAL), which provided cementing services for the project.

Barbier conducted two trial phases in 2013, one on fault and gross negligence, the other on the size of the spill and the efforts to contain it. 

Barbier said today that 4 million barrels of oil spewed from the well and agreed with both sides that 810,000 barrels were captured by a siphoning device at the wellhead before they could spill into the Gulf. That left the 3.19 million barrels that will be considered in determining the civil penalty, he said. 

The case is In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, MDL-2179, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans).

ANOTHER CLOSE CALL: A DRILL RIG DRILLED INTO A 4-INCH LINE IN THE VICINITY OF APPLEBEE'S, SENDING GAS FLOWING ACROSS THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN MONTROSE, COLORADO

ANOTHER CLOSE CALL:  A DRILL RIG DRILLED INTO A 4-INCH LINE IN THE VICINITY OF APPLEBEE'S, SENDING GAS FLOWING ACROSS THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN MONTROSE, COLORADO

Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 3:09 pm | Updated: 3:57 pm, Thu Jan 15, 2015. 

MONTROSE, COLORADO

Traffic is shut down in both directions on South Townsend Avenue between Woodgate and Ogden roads, and police are asking motorists to steer clear of the area while a gas leak is addressed.

According to preliminary reports, a drill rig drilled into a 4-inch line in the vicinity of Applebee's, sending gas flowing across the main thoroughfare Thursday afternoon.

The closure is expected to last until about 6 p.m., as Source Gas is on scene repairing the leak and the Montrose Fire Protection District monitors risks.

Traffic is being rerouted down Woodgate Road, which is experiencing heavy volume as a result.

Multiple businesses are affected and are being monitored for safety. The danger zone is right around the drilling rig, but risk is otherwise considered low.

***

Initial story posted at 3:10 p.m. Jan. 15 is below:

Southbound traffic on Townsend Avenue was closed from O'Delle to Ogden roads, due to a gas leak shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday.

According to preliminary reports, a drill rig drilled into a 4-inch line in the vicinity of Applebee's, sending gas flowing across the main thoroughfare this afternoon.

Northbound traffic might also be affected, authorities said.

Southbound traffic was being rerouted to Woodgate Road.

1 DEAD, SEVERAL HURT IN MAJOR CRASH ALONG INTERSTATE 95 IN BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1 DEAD, SEVERAL HURT IN MAJOR CRASH ALONG INTERSTATE 95 IN BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Deanna Durante reports from the scene. (Published Thursday, Jan 15, 2015)

Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 • Updated at 5:11 PM EST

A person has been killed and several others hurt in a crash involving multiple trucks and vehicles along Interstate 95 northbound in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, state police tell NBC10.

The crash happened around 1:15 p.m. Thursday just south of the Street Road exit in Bensalem, Pennsylvania State Police said.

A tractor-trailer hauling garbage plowed through the guardrail in the grassy median and flipped onto its side. The load was spilled as a result.

Another truck and three other passenger vehicles were involved, police said. The engine of another big rig was destroyed and debris was strewn all over the roadway.

State police said one person was killed, but they have not identified them as officials are trying to notify family. Several other people were injured.

The highway has been shut down in the northbound direction since the crash. Police expect it to remain closed for sometime. The southbound lanes are also experiencing delays.

THE RISKS OF UNDERRIDE ACCIDENTS: WOMAN DIES AFTER CAR SLAMS INTO TRACTOR-TRAILER ALONG INTERSTATE 95 IN NEW JERSEY

WOMAN DIES AFTER CAR SLAMS INTO TRACTOR-TRAILER ALONG INTERSTATE 95 IN NEW JERSEY

Township that left one person dead and lanes closed. (Published Thursday, Jan 15, 2015)

Thursday, Jan 15, 2015 • Updated at 9:55 AM EST

A tractor-trailer and car collided along Interstate 95 in New Jersey leaving a woman dead and the roadway closed early Thursday.

The deadly wreck left I-95 northbound closed near Exit 4 (Route 31) in Hopewell Township, Mercer County, around 3 a.m., said New Jersey State Police.

The female crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was parked on the shoulder of the highway, said state police Sgt. Jeff Flynn.

The unidentified woman's car burst into flames and she died on the scene.

After closing down the roadway as they investigated, police slowly reopened lanes but as of 5 a.m. two lanes remained closed.

U.S. Route 1 could be used as an alternate.

Pennsylvania DEP Study Shows There is Little Potential for Radiation Exposure from Oil and Gas Development

Pennsylvania DEP Study Shows There is Little Potential for Radiation Exposure from Oil and Gas Development

HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the results of its TENORM Study, which analyzed the naturally occurring levels of radioactivity associated with oil and natural gas development in Pennsylvania. While the study outlines recommendations for further study, it concluded there is little potential for harm to workers or the public from radiation exposure due to oil and gas development.

“The study report is the culmination of a multi-year effort and represents what we believe to be the most comprehensive radiological study of the oil and gas industry ever conducted,” Vince Brisini, DEP Deputy Secretary for Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation said. “While the recommendations for future actions contained in the report call for additional studies and efforts, we now have data to inform the management of natural gas resources and resultant wastes for environmental and health protection.”

In January 2013, at the direction of Gov. Tom Corbett, DEP began studying radioactivity levels in flowback waters, treatment solids and drill cuttings, as well as transportation, storage and disposal of drilling wastes. This included a study of radon levels in natural gas to ensure that public health and the environment continue to be protected.

In summary, the peer-reviewed study concluded that:

• There is little potential for additional radon exposure to the public due to the use of natural gas extracted from geologic formations located in Pennsylvania.

• There is little or limited potential for radiation exposure to the public and workers from the development, completion, production, transmission, processing, storage, and end use of natural gas. There are, however, potential radiological environmental impacts from fluids if spilled. Radium should be added to the Pennsylvania spill protocol to ensure cleanups are adequately characterized. There are also site-specific circumstances and situations where the use of personal protective equipment by workers or other controls should be evaluated.

• There is little potential for radiation exposure to workers and the public at facilities that treat oil and gas wastes. However, there are potential radiological environmental impacts that should be studied at all facilities in Pennsylvania that treat wastes to determine if any areas require remediation. If elevated radiological impacts are found, the development of radiological discharge limitations and spill policies should be considered.

• There is little potential for radiation exposure to the public and workers from landfills receiving waste from the oil and gas industry. However, filter cake from facilities treating wastes could have a radiological environmental impact if spilled, and there is also a potential long-term disposal issue. TENORM disposal protocols should be reviewed to ensure the safety of long-term disposal of waste containing TENORM.

• While limited potential was found for radiation exposure to recreationists using roads treated with brine from conventional natural gas wells, further study of radiological environmental impacts from the use of brine from the oil and gas industry for dust suppression and road stabilization should be conducted.

To read the entire report and a complete list of its observations and recommendations, visit www.dep.state.pa.us, keyword: TENORM.

FIRE DAMAGES CONCORD, CALIFORNIA DUPLEX THIS MORNING. 2 ADULTS, 4 CHILDREN DISPLACED IN THE TWO-ALARM BLAZE. ELECTRIC ITEMS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SPARKS.

FIRE DAMAGES CONCORD, CALIFORNIA DUPLEX THIS MORNING.  2 ADULTS, 4 CHILDREN DISPLACED IN THE TWO-ALARM BLAZE. ELECTRIC ITEMS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SPARKS.

January 15, 2015 at 9:20am

A two-alarm fire damaged a duplex in Concord this morning, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman said. The fire was reported at about 6:35 a.m. on St. Phillip Court, a cul-de-sac off of Willow Pass Road, Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said.

Firefighters responded within 10 minutes and found a fire in a garage with a car inside and flames that spread to the two units of the duplex, Marshall said.

Everyone got out of the homes safely and the blaze was extinguished by 7:30 a.m. with no injuries reported, he said.

Two adults and five children were displaced from one of the units and a single adult was displaced from the other, Marshall said.

The blaze, which caused an estimated $350,000 in damage, is not considered suspicious, he said.

The cause remains under investigation, but fire officials are looking at a couple electrical items in the garage that may have sparked the flames, Marshall said.

--Bay City News