Transocean's $1 Billion Civil Settlement OK'd
Transocean's agreement to pay $1 billion in civil penalties for its role in the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010 has been approved by a US District judge.
Just last week, another judge approved the company's criminal settlement with the federal government for $400 million in criminal penalties—the second largest criminal Clean Water Act fines and penalties in US History.”
The majority of the $1.4 billion from Transocean will go towards environmental-restoration projects and spill-prevention research and training.
“Transocean’s guilty plea and sentencing are the latest steps in the department’s ongoing efforts to seek justice on behalf of the victims of the Deepwater Horizon disaster,” said Atty. Gen. Eric Holder in a prepared statement. “Most of the $400-million criminal recovery -- one of the largest for an environmental crime in U.S. history -- will go toward protecting, restoring and rebuilding the Gulf Coast region.”
Since the incident, BP has paid over $24 billion on various settlements and cleanup efforts. Although its stock fell drastically after the accident, it has recovered by more than 40 percent since. The company continues to contend that the spill was in part the fault of its two contractors: Transocean and Halliburton.
Photo sourced via Green Fire Productions
Read More in Energy Digital's February Issue
