Justice Department May Sue BP Over Gulf Oil Spill

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The U.S Justice Department filed papers with the U.S. District Court in New Orleans Monday, September 13, indicating that they expect to sue BP for damages as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010.

CNN reported that in the filing, federal lawyers said that they may seek claims under the Oil Pollution Act and the Clean Water Act.

The Oil Pollution Act was adopted in 1990 after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and the Clean Water Act gives the government the right to seek potentially massive penalties.

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Tuesday that the Baton Rouge Area Foundation in Louisiana said only 160 of the 8,000 people who worked on the 33 deepwater rigs banned from drilling due to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico applied for aid from a $100 million fund established by BP.

The deadline for the first first round of applications is Sept. 30. It is limited to workers employed on the 33 deepwater exploratory drilling rigs operating in the gulf on May 28 when President Obama announced the moratorium.

Source: UPI via Maritime Lawyer News

Updated: February 5, 2026 (Originally published September 15, 2010)

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