Feds Let BP Off Probation Despite Pending Safety Violations
BP’s refining subsidiary was released today from criminal probation related to a 2005 explosion in Texas City that killed 15 workers.
The company has addressed the most serious safety deficiencies exposed by the accident and satisfied the terms of a felony plea agreement to settle charges that it failed to protect workers from known risks, a U.S. Justice Department spokesman said.
The move closes a controversial chapter for the company, but it leaves an array of worker-safety issues unresolved. BP is still negotiating over more than 400 additional violations brought against its Texas City refinery separately from the criminal case.
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BP Says Well Is Sealed, but Oily Gulf and Accountability Questions Remain
BP's ruptured well has been plugged, but the oil’s still out there, and BP is still in the hot seat.
Gulf Spill Paymaster Defends Progress While Weighing Changes
The paymaster managing the claims in the Gulf oil disaster agrees that things aren't working as well as he hoped, but says he's working on changes.
Report: Federal Disaster Response Plans Shortchange Worker Safety
A new report contends that federal disaster response plans fail to ensure cleanup workers’ safety.
Scientists Discover Thick Layer of Oil Stretching for Miles on Gulf Sea Floor
New research suggests the amount of oil on the sea floor is far more extensive than previously known or reported.
Gulf Compensation Chief Retreats From Promises to Speed Claims Process
Just two weeks into the Gulf oil spill claims process, Ken Feinberg admits it's going to take longer than he promised.
Have You Worked Processing Gulf Spill Damage Claims?
If you are working for BP or any of other subcontractors or temp agencies that have helped with the claims process, we want to hear about your experience.
Gulf Compensation Czar Apologizes for Falling Short of Goals
Gulf spill paymaster Ken Feinberg apologizes for the kinks in the claims process.
BP’s Internal Investigation vs. What We Already Know
BP's long-awaited internal report is out, and it shares the blame with contractors Halliburton and Transocean.
New Gulf Compensation Chief Lags in Processing Claims
Kenneth Feinberg’s new system for handling claims from the Gulf oil spill is already running into delays.
Take It With a Grain of (Sea) Salt: Gulf Microbe Study Was Funded by BP
Scientists at Berkeley this week announced that microbes had eaten oil so quickly the Gulf's oil plumes are now undetectable. They disclosed that BP funded their research. The media didn't.
Local Officials: Lack of Oxygen Likely Killing Thousands of Fish in the Gulf
A fish kill at the mouth of the Mississippi River raises questions about whether oil played a role.
As Gulf Spill Claims Czar Takes Over, a Checklist of Promised Changes
Kenneth Feinberg takes over as the paymaster for the Gulf oil spill, and has promised new rules to speed the process.
Introducing Our BP Claims Tracker—You Can Have It, Too
Our emebeddable BP claims tracker charts how much money BP has spent reimbursing claimants for Gulf Spill damages.
Federal Agency, Under Questioning, Clarifies Its Rosy Gulf Report
Just how much of the oil spilled in the Gulf is still there? Depends on what the meaning of "is" is.
Paths to Final Fix for BP Well Are Still Under Debate
As part of the permanent Deepwater Horizon fix, a new blowout preventer will be installed. But the new equipment has had problems in the past, too
Scientists Dispute Government Stance on the Lingering Effects of Gulf Oil
The government says Gulf seafood is safe and most of the spilled oil is gone, but a triple-whammy of reports raises doubts.
Obama Admin: No More Regulatory Shortcuts for Deepwater Drilling Projects
The Interior Department says deepwater drilling projects won’t skip environmental reviews anymore.
BP’s Claims Reporting Leaves a Fuzzy Picture
How well claimants are being compensated for oil spill damages is impossible to tell from BP's numbers.
BP Says It Will Spend $52 Million for Mental Health Care in the Gulf Region
Acknowledging "stress and anxiety" among Gulf Coast residents, BP agrees to help fund mental health services there.
Incoming Paymaster for Spill Claims Outlines Changes to BP’s System
The administrator appointed to oversee compensation for Gulf oil spill victims described the broad changes he will implement to BP's current claims system once he takes over the process.Anonymous Tipline
If you work for BP or a contractor on a rig in the Gulf, or anywhere else, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us about your work conditions, your management, and your observations of what is happening. We will not publish your identity. Call 917-512-0254, fax documents to 212-514-5250 or e-mail Abrahm.Lustgarten@propublica.org.
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