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For Immediate Release, December 3, 2012

Contact:  Charlie Tebbutt, (541) 285-3717; Marc Fink, (218) 341-2343

BP Hearing to Address $20 Billion Citizen Lawsuit Over 2010 Gulf Oil Spill

What: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit will hear arguments concerning the Center for Biological Diversity’s $20 billion Clean Water Act lawsuit filed against BP and Transocean over the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 4. Oral arguments on the Center’s appeal will take place after 1 p.m.

Where: Room 265 of the John Minor Wisdom United States Court of Appeals Building, 600 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Who: Attorney Charlie Tebbutt will present argument on behalf of the Center. Attorney Daniel Snyder and Center staff attorney Marc Fink will also be present on behalf of the Center. 

Background: On April 20, 2010, the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 people and causing the largest environmental disaster in our nation’s history. On June 18, 2010, the Center filed a citizen suit against BP and Transocean Ltd. for spewing millions of barrels of oil, methane and other toxic pollutants into the Gulf of Mexico. The Center’s lawsuit seeks the maximum penalty against BP, and for all penalties to be used for Gulf of Mexico restoration. The Center also seeks full disclosure of the amount of oil spewed into the Gulf, and the identification and amounts of all toxic pollutants. The Center’s case was dismissed by the district court on June 16, 2011, and the Center appealed to the 5th Circuit to overturn the dismissal.

“BP needs to take full responsibility and offer full disclosure,” said Center Attorney Marc Fink. “We filed this suit because we believe BP should be fully responsible for the complete restoration of the Gulf. The company must also disclose the amounts of all toxic pollutants spewed into the Gulf during the spill.”

The Center for Biological Diversity’s attorneys will be available after the hearing to discuss the Center’s case. To arrange an interview, call (218) 341-2343.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 450,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


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