TIDMBP.
RNS Number : 8985Q
BP PLC
04 September 2014
press release
4 September, 2014
Statement on Gulf of Mexico
BP strongly disagrees with the decision issued today by the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
and will immediately appeal to the United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit.
BP believes that the finding that it was grossly negligent with
respect to the accident and that its activities at the Macondo well
amounted to willful misconduct is not supported by the evidence at
trial. The law is clear that proving gross negligence is a very
high bar that was not met in this case. BP believes that an
impartial view of the record does not support the erroneous
conclusion reached by the District Court.
The Court has not yet ruled on the number of barrels spilled and
no penalty has yet been determined. The District Court will hold
additional proceedings, which are currently scheduled to begin in
January 2015, to consider the application of statutory penalty
factors in assessing a per-barrel Clean Water Act penalty. The
Clean Water Act requires the District Court to consider a number of
factors in determining an appropriate penalty. The statutory
maximum penalty is $1,100 per barrel where the court finds simple
negligence and $4,300 per barrel where the court finds gross
negligence or willful misconduct. During the penalty proceedings,
BP will seek to show that its conduct merits a penalty that is less
than the applicable maximum after application of the statutory
factors.
BP is reviewing the decision and will issue a further statement
as soon as possible.
Further enquiries:
BP Press Office, London +44 (0)207 496 4076, bppress@bp.com
- ENDS -
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