WASHINGTON (December 11, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), who pushed for legislation to increase the liability for oil spills following the BP Gulf of Mexico spill, today praised the Department of Interior for raising the liability for oil spills from $75 million to their maximum allowable limit of $134 million, while calling on Congress to make the spill liability unlimited. 

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

“The Obama administration has now done what it can under the law to raise the liability for oil spills, and it is up to Congress to take the next step to hold oil companies fully accountable when they spill oil. We learned from the BP disaster that the fines and liabilities oil companies face for safety and spill violations amount to slaps on the wrist when compared to the damage they incur, and the profits these companies keep. There is much left to be done to prevent another BP spill from happening, and increasing these penalties, including making the liability for spills unlimited, is at the top of the list.

“I thank Secretary Jewell and the Interior Department for their actions today, and will work to get them the authority they need to protect the public and keep our environment safe.”