NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) -- Oil giant BP says it has agreed to pay $4.5 billion in a wide-ranging settlement with the U.S. government over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, two BP employees have been indicted on manslaughter charges in 2010 Gulf oil spill disaster.
The London-based multinational company said in a statement Thursday it agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges including 11 felony counts of misconduct related to the deaths of 11 men in the rig explosion that triggered the oil spill.
It also agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of obstruction of Congress.
The settlement total of $4.5 billion over five years includes nearly $1.3 billion in criminal fines, the largest such penalty ever, along with payments to several government agencies.
Gov. Phil Bryant issued this statement on the BP settlement:
"Mississippi has not been a part of this plea bargain or the criminal settlement. As I review the settlement documents, I will work to determine best opportunities for the continued recovery on the Mississippi Gulf Coast affected by this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family and friends of the four Mississippians who lost their lives due to the Deepwater Horizon tragedy.”
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves released the following statement on the BP criminal settlement:
“I hope this criminal settlement results in a swift agreement with the states on the environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Those funds are needed for the continued recovery of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
