Gulf Oil spill
Gulf spill blamed on poor management decisions
A key federal report, recently released, puts ultimate responsibility on BP for worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The report indicates that BP made a series of decisions that complicated cementing operations, added risk, and may have contributed to the ultimate failure of the cement job. Full article.
April 20 marks deadline for Gulf oil spill litigation
April 20 marks the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion. It is also the final day for filing claims for the trial for rig owner Transocean Ltd's liability. The trial, scheduled for February 2012, will determine whether the company can limit what it pays claimants. Full article.
Scientists say gulf health nearly at pre-spill level
A recent AP survey of scientific researchers indicates that scientists judge the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico as nearly back to normal one year after the BP oil spill. More than three dozen scientists grade the Gulf's big picture health a 68 on average, using a 1-to-100 scale. Full article.
LA Attorney General: “…I intend to hold Transocean fully accountable for its role in the loss of human life and pollution of our state..."
Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded, killed 11 workers and caused one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history, said in recent SEC filings that 2010 was "the best year in safety performance in our company's history," which meant top executives were granted bonuses reflecting those results." LA Attorney General Caldwell said, "This statement by Transocean is an affront to human dignity and basic American values. It is reflective of a callous disregard for both human life and public safety", said Caldwell. "I intend to hold Transocean fully accountable for its role in the loss of human life and pollution of our state." Full article.
The New Orleans Miracle
Having endured massive flood and wind damage from hurricanes, then been blindsided by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the entire region of Southern LA received about a century’s worth of misery. And, at the center of it all are the City of New Orleans and the surrounding 10-parish Greater New Orleans region. “Recovery and rebuilding are one and the same,” New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in an interview in his office at City Hall. “With the 100-year flood protection efforts made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the city is in pretty good shape from an infrastructure standpoint.” Full article.
BP oil spill claims czar says recovery in 3 years
The administrator of BP's $20 billion Gulf oil spill compensation fund recently indicated that he expects the region to recover within three years—an assessment that will be used to determine how much to pay spill victims in final settlements. Attorney Kenneth Feinberg said that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility used "various data and expert reports" to determine that a 30% recovery is likely in 2011 with full recovery in 2012. He notes, however, that oysters will take longer. Full article.
Lawyers to staff oil spill claims offices
The group administering BP's compensation fund for victims of the Gulf oil spill hired several law firms and a claims administration company to help oil spill fund applicants. Attorneys will be staffing claims offices in Biloxi, Miss., eastern New Orleans and in several Florida cities. Full article.
Gulf spill claimants offered new, faster options
Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of a fund paying damages from the Gulf oil spill, recently indicated that claimants who want quick resolution could receive a one-time payment, but in return, they would relinquish their right to sue BP. The new option, which would pay claimants within two weeks, is for people who just want to get on with their lives. Full article.
New oil spill claim phase begins
Gulf oil spill claims administrator Ken Feinberg recently wrote new rules for interim and final claims, including some last-minute tweaks to address concerns from Gulf Coast state officials. A new three-year application period begins November 24 for those seeking aid for losses because of the spill begins. Full article.
White House edits stain its reliance on science
The oil spill that damaged the Gulf of Mexico's reefs and wetlands is also threatening to stain the Obama administration's reputation for relying on science to guide policy. Academics, environmentalists and federal investigators have accused the administration since the April spill of downplaying scientific findings, misrepresenting data and most recently misconstruing the opinions of experts it solicited. Full article.
