2.4 Million vs 4.2 Million = 3.19 Million. Thats todays math lesson in the #BP Oil Disaster. Today Judge Barbier ruled on the total amount of oil, an amount contested by both BP and the US Justice Department, to be held at 3.19 Million Barrels. BP contended they only spilled 2.4 Million barrels, the US Justice Department stating that BP spewed 4.2 Million Barrels during the 87 days BPs well from hell was out of control in the Gulf of Mexico. The US Justice Department had filed for the maximum $18 billion dollars in penalties based on their estimates. Geoscientists and researchers today debated with BP attorneys (ref: tinyurl/geoscientistsjoust) over the total amount, the judge not granting BP their lowball figure, and given the circumstances and bumbling on the part of both BP and the US Government via the US Coast Guard, the judge opted to settle on the amount to equal 3.19 Million Barrels. This is still far more than BP attempted to skate off their responsibility with (ref: tinyurl/MoreOilThanBPClaimed). And for that we are grateful. Nothing about this disaster has been easy, fighting for the truth has been a difficult task, not just for our group, but for scientists, researchers, attorneys, government officials - all trying to cut through the BP BS to get to the truth - which is the best outcome anyone could hope for. As things stand, BP will now face a penalty fine of nearly $14 Billion Dollars - 4 Billion less than the maximum, but far greater than what BP was willing to swallow, especially when combined with the nearly $58 Billion they have already been forced to spend cleaning up their disaster. And since when is $14 Billion Dollars a bargain under any definition? (Ref: tinyurl/HowIs14BillionADeal). It still will be the LARGEST fine in the history of the US Justice Departments filings (Ref: tinyurl/BPBiggestFineEver) which carries along with it the title of the worst man-made environmental disaster in the history of the Untied States. So today we learned that this disaster was in fact larger than BP estimated and reported, that they will still be fined the largest environmental fine in the history of the US, they will still be tagged with their admission to 14 Felony pleadings, lying to Congress, and destroying the Gulf of Mexico. Its about JUSTICE - and RESPONSIBILITY - and TRANSPARENCY - and the TRUTH. 4 things BP has had to swallow whole. And when the bean counters at BP are through, the amount yet to be recovered in claims, medical and financial, as well as concurrent damages that will be ongoing for decades to come means BP will now, and forever be known as the Super Villains of environmental destruction they are. Justice. Sometimes it can be hard to understand, but in the end, its victory for the lives destroyed that is the most important thing. And understanding that victory and being proud for holding BP accountable is something we should all be VERY proud of. --Maureen, Real Coastal Warriors
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:18:31 +0000
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