Quebec Government Sues MM&A for Oil Train Disaster in Lac-Mégantic

The Lac-Mégantic crude oil train disaster is not only tragic for the 47 people who lost their lives, it is a costly environmental calamity that decimated a significant part of the small town. The government of Quebec is the latest to add its name to those seeking compensation from the now insolvent Montreal, Maine & Atlantic (MM&A) railroad company. MM&A along with 3 employees are also facing criminal charges in the case.

On Monday June 16 the government said it is seeking $409 million from the MM&A for expenses associated with the tragedy. According to June 13 claim by Quebec's justice ministry the province has already spent $126 million in public funds. They expect to spend an additional $283 million. Justice is seeking compensation so that Quebec taxpayers are not left to foot the bill.

At present there is only $25 million in insurance money available to the MM&A to compensate the province. The government of Quebec has promised that those affected in Lac-Mégantic will be the first to receive compensation.

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Lawsuit to Protect Arctic Sea Ice as Critical Seal Habitat

Environmentalists are using the courts to try to protect vanishing Arctic sea ice. In September, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit intended to protect the critical habitat of two species of seals in the US District Court in Anchorage. Even though the agency proposed listing the ringed seal and the bearded seal as threatened in 2010, nothing has been done. The suit accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of illegally delaying listings for the two species of seals under the Endangered Species Act.

Seals use snow caves to protect their young, so the absence of Arctic ice puts "seal pups at higher risk of death from freezing and predation," the lawsuit says. Endangered Species Act protections would protect the Arctic ice as part of the seal's "critical habitat."

Like the polar bear these two species of seals are being threatened by climate change in the Arctic. Elevated levels of man made greenhouse gases are behind the lowest levels of Arctic ice ever recorded.

"Global warming will impact ringed and bearded seals directly by degrading and eliminating critical sea-ice habitat, which will have devastating consequences by reducing adult reproductive success and the survival of pups and impairing their ability to molt," the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs note that Arctic wildlife also face threats from offshore Arctic oil development.

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BP Accused of Corporate Recklessness Including Willful Misconduct, Gross Neglect and Making False Statements

A recent US Justice Department court filing, accuses British Petroleum (BP) of gross neglect, as well as making false and misleading comments. The accusations stem from BP's handling of the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon that spilled 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and killed 11 workers.

The Justice Department alleges false statements and misrepresentation over BP's assertion that the Gulf Coast's natural resources are making a "robust recovery" from its massive 2010 oil spill.

The legal papers filed by the US Justice Department charge that BP is guilty of falsehoods in the $7.8 billion settlement with thousands of Gulf Coast residents and businesses harmed by the spill.

The government’s 37-page objection to BP’s legal claims say the corporate giant is guilty of a “culture of corporate recklessness” that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The challenge seeks to hold BP responsible for a wide array of environmental impacts including dying deep-sea corals, dead dolphins, sick fish and marsh oil. They also allege that BP is ignoring the long-term neurological damage to clean-up workers and other Gulf residents who were exposed to the toxic dispersant Corexit.

In another separate filing, Alabama also accuses the oil company of misrepresentation and argues that BP committed 'willful misconduct' by attempting a risky 'top kill' method to stop the 2010 spill, when it knew that method would fail.

Both the federal government and the state of Alabama are pursuing civil cases. The federal government is also pursuing an ongoing criminal investigation against BP that is expect to begin next year.

BP's TV commercials whitewash what is really going on in the wake of their unprecedented oil spill in the Gulf. It is blatantly dishonest to suggest that everything is back to normal.

The Alabama filing notes that BP misrepresented the flow rate indicating that it was 5,000 bpd (barrels per day), even though they new is was significantly higher.

The court challenge could force BP to pay billions of dollars in fines for the worst offshore oil spill in US history. At the very least it is a warning to all who would cause destruction to the environment.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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