As the plugging of this gushing undersea oil appears to be gaining ground, and
the oil pouring into the gulf maybe coming under some control, I think its
time to start talking about the liability of BP, the severe damage their
aparent carelessness and corner-cutting caused, and just how *they* intend to
clean up the mess that followed.


Not to mention being absolutely certain that they fully understand they will
also be liable for the forced involvement of company outsiders (the cost of
the US Coast Guard involvement, for one), and the full compensation of those
who's livelyhood has been (and will be for some time to come) greatly impacted
by this disaster.


Several billions of dollars is probably what the final tally will be, never
mind the wildlife that has and will be impacted by this situation.


The oil company involved in the Exxon Valdez was made to pay through the nose.

This situation should be no different. If an investigation reveals that the
shortcuts taken were in any way a `criminal endangerment' of human life, and
failure to reasonably preserve the safety of the operation of this risky
method of drilling for oil, the persons responsible should be prosecuted to
the full extent of the law.


Further, any `cap' or `ceiling' placed on `financial liability' by the US
Congress regarding accidents in petroleum drilling operations, should be set
aside (I wonder how it ever got there in the first place). And the full
monetary cost of recovery, compensation for damages, etc etc, should be payed
solely by BP. No excuses, no exceptions.


The U.S. taxpayer should not in any way, shape, or form, bear any financial
liability in this matter. Any cost to the U.S. taxpayers on any level
whatever, should be fully repaid by BP.

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*Durango b301 #PE*