BP sued over two major oil spills in Alaska
BP is being sued by the US government over claims the oil giant broke clean air and water laws following two major spills in Alaska. The company’s Alaska unit is accused of illegally discharging more than 200,000 gallons of crude oil from pipelines on to the North Slope in 2006.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Anchorage, claims BP, headed since 2007 by chief executive Tony Hayward, failed to prepare and implement spill prevention and control plans.
It also accuses BP of improperly removing materials containing asbestos from pipelines and failing to obey orders to conduct testing, inspection, maintenance and repair activities.
The news came as Sir Tom McKillop, the former chairman of Royal Bank of Scotland who signed off on Sir Fred Goodwin’s pension, announced his retirement from the BP board following pressure from shareholders.
The US Justice Department said it is seeking the highest amount of civil penalties possible for the oil spills by law. It is also asking the court to order BP to take action to prevent future spills.
BP Alaska spokesman Steve Rinehart said: “We have taken significant steps to ensure our operations are safe and reliable, and protect the environment.”