Judge says BP grossly negligent prior to spill

United States District Court Judge Carl Barbier on Thursday ruled that BP was “grossly negligent” in its actions leading to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The ruling means that BP faces penalties of up to $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled, maximizing the money that will be returned to Southwest Louisiana parishes like Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermillion through the RESTORE Act.
The RESTORE Act, which Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. crafted with Senator Richard Shelby, R-Ala., will direct billions back to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast for environmental and economic restoration from the BP Oil Spill. Already, the law has netted $800 million from Transocean’s settlement that will soon be distributed to the five Gulf Coast states. BP will pay anywhere from an estimated $10 - $17.6 billion under the Clean Water Act once the civil trial concludes.
Southwest Louisiana’s three coastal parishes will receive anywhere from $16.6 million to $30.1 million from the settlement.
Based on BP being fined $4,300 per barrel for the estimated 2.45 billion barrels to 4.1 billion barrels in play Calcasieu Parish would receive $8.5 to $15 billion, Cameron Parish $3.5 to $6.2 billion and Vermilion Parish $5.1 to 8.9 billion.