WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Swift Justice for Deepwater Horizon

Editorial: Swift Justice for Deepwater Horizon

Posted: Updated:
By Mark Wilder - email

  • Editorials

  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:20:53 GMT
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident. The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident.  The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are the other motorists on the roadways.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-15 23:20:31 GMT
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments: "If the budget is passed at this severely cut rate, the shortage of physicians, hospitals, and clinics
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments:

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-01 23:20:35 GMT
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"

  • Friday, April 20 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-04-20 23:20:42 GMT
    For the next sixty seconds I want you to give yourself permission to push pause on whatever you are doing and listen and reflect for a moment. I did this recently after reading an article titled "Top five

  • Wednesday, April 18 2012 7:27 PM EDT2012-04-18 23:27:31 GMT
    Representative Christopher John England (Tuscaloosa) has sponsored a bill in the Alabama legislature that would allow convicted felons of drug crimes to receive food stamps under certain circumstances.
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Last Wednesday's report from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Coast Guard on the Gulf oil spill of 2010 was even more damning to BP than the President's panel findings earlier this year. 

The report said in essence that BP's poor management, last-minute changes, failure to respond, and insufficient training were the principle factors in the blowout and oil spill that killed 11 workers and severely damaged the Gulf Coast. 

BP has only paid around $7 billion to fishermen, hotel and cruise ship owners so far and only expects to pay another $7 billion or so. 

The trial date for civil damage claims against BP is set for February. 

Many believe they will have to offer an additional $30 billion in compensation and fines based on this latest report. 

It is well for us to remember that Exxon Mobil fought claims related to the 1989 Valdez oil spill for almost 20 years, significantly reducing the payments to legal opponents that were originally awarded. 

Let us not forget the Deepwater Horizon and see to it that just compensation and fines come from those responsible, and do so swiftly.