The Wall Street Journal reported on February 19 that BP PLC has already committed almost $30 billion for spill cleanup, compensation and penalties derived from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On top of that, BP intends to resolve in court additional civil penalty claims under Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, rather than negotiate a settlement with the USEPA and Gulf Coast states. BP believes the claims are exaggerated and a court settlement may be less costly. The first of two separate trials begins next week.
