Oil spill jail time for BP officials? It could happen.

csmonitor. ^ | June 2, 2010 | Peter Grier

[JoeProBono]

BP officials could be prosecuted under the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act, and the Endangered Species Act. So could federal officials if they aided and abetted any illegal acts.

[JoeProBono]

"The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) was signed into law in August 1990, largely in response to rising public concern following the Exxon Valdez incident. The OPA improved the nation's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills by establishing provisions that expand the federal government's ability, and provide the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills. The OPA also created the national Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is available to provide up to one billion dollars per spill incident."

[muawiyah]

So the federales have time to look this stuff up but no time at all to approve oil abatement measures along the shoreline of the Gulf.

I do believe we have found our very first federal employees to keelhaul on one of those floating well drilling operations.

[driftdiver]

Minor point, but how about plugging the dang hole before we worry about who’s going to jail???

[SumProVita]

What about jail time for government officials who gave them waivers?

[nascarnation]

They should have gone to jail for price fixing propane.
(at least that’s what my budget was screaming at the time)

[omega4179]

They would have to prove that a particular BP officer conspired to kill wildlife etc. It is never going to happen.

[JoeProBono]

AG Eric Holder says government criminal investigation BP oil spill. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen

[EBH]

Actually, no they don’t.

Negligence is the only proof needed.

[edcoil]

No Kidding.

When O sent his AG, it was over. Lawyers don’t know oil, they know the law. how about sending in oil men.

[norraad]

It would be prudent to study any safety procedures the Russians had in their deep well operations.

Yes, it may sound funny, but BP was extremely jealous of their operations.

They originally discredited The Deep Hot Biosphere by Thomas Gold, the Russians weren't so stupid and went ahead into the deep.

That was partly or maybe wholly what drove them so recklessly in the Gulf.

Anyway, soon it all will come out.

Hopefully great strides in safety will result.

I hope these wells will be left alone for the most part, as they feed the ones above.

[unkus]

The Admiral looks more like a Marine. He doesn’t look the type to put up with B. S.

[SaraJohnson]

The administration are shake down artists - community activists and trial lawyers - not people who actually know how to create things and make things work. They are the bloodsuckers of society.

[Brett66]

They could start by putting most of their administration in jail.