deepwater horizon
Credit: Zaschnaus/Big Stock Photo
Settlement for BP oil spill workers falls short of expectations
A court settlement meant to compensate cleanup workers affected by the BP oil spill has largely failed, leaving many without proper aid.
Travis Loller and Michael Phillis report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The settlement has paid out only a small fraction, with 79% of recipients receiving no more than $1,300 each.
- Legal hurdles and strict proof requirements have thwarted many workers' attempts to claim adequate compensation.
- Attorneys and experts criticize the settlement and claims process as insufficient and overly stringent.
Key quote:
"I wanted people to get their day in court and they win or lose at trial. Let a jury decide. ...But they weren’t even given the chance to do that."
— Robin Greenwald, plaintiffs' attorney
Why this matters:
Cleanup workers were exposed to hazardous conditions and toxic substances, such as crude oil and chemical dispersants, which have been linked to a range of health issues. These include respiratory problems, skin conditions, and other serious ailments. Many workers have found the compensation inadequate relative to the severity and duration of their health problems, which in some cases require ongoing medical treatment.
If settlements fail to provide sufficient redress, not only do they leave affected individuals and communities struggling, but they also raise questions about the deterrence of future corporate negligence.
Due to disproportionate exposure to contaminated air, water, toxic chemicals, unsafe workplaces and other environmental hazards, poor, disenfranchised and minority communities face more health problems.
Keep reading...Show less
The oil-soaked bird photo that shocked the world
On 20 April 2010, the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded. A photograph of an oil-soaked pelican came to epitomise the environmental disaster and helped galvanise the clean-up.
Photo by Arvind Vallabh on Unsplash
Biden revived rules designed to prevent another Deepwater Horizon disaster
After the 2010 oil spill, the government enacted new safety regulations. President Donald J. Trump weakened them; President Biden has restored them.
Newsletter
Amy Huser/Flickr/US Coast Guard/Public Domainhttps://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
They cleaned up BP’s massive oil spill. Now they’re sick – and want justice
Thirteen years after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, documents shed light on the company’s response and ‘scorched earth’ legal tactics.
Administration awards Gulf of Mexico drilling leases to oil giants
The leases from a 2021 sale were given to oil and gas companies as part of a deal with Sen. Manchin over climate legislation.
A key tool for cleaning up oil spills is more hazardous than helpful
In the decade since the record-breaking use of oil dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, science shows they’re dangerous, potentially deadly, and rarely useful. A new court case is forcing the US EPA to reconsider their use.
A massive oil spill helped one billionaire avoid paying income tax for 14 years
Phyllis Taylor’s company is responsible for the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history. That’s been a disaster for the Gulf of Mexico — but a tax bonanza for Taylor.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
