BOSTON (September 4, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who led the congressional investigation into the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, today praised the ruling by a Louisiana federal court that BP was “reckless” and guilty of “gross negligence” in their contributions to the spill. BP would be subject to higher per barrel fines due to the gross negligence determination. Senator Markey’s investigation into the spill prompted additional scientific investigations to determine that the flowrate of the spill was higher than BP claimed.

 

Below is the statement of Senator Markey, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees:

 

"In the course of my investigation of BP, it was clear that the company compromised safety for speed, and today's ruling once again confirms that assessment. BP should be fully held to account, and should not be allowed to low-ball the size of its spill or take other actions that could reduce their financial liabilities for this disaster. The people of the Gulf of Mexico deserve justice, delivered in full."