Uncle Sam Whacks BP for Oil Spills

WASHINGTON (CN) - BP Exploration (Alaska) dumped 200,000 gallons of crude oil from its pipelines onto the North Slope during two major oil spills in 2006, the U.S. Justice Department claims in Anchorage Federal Court.

Prosecutors say BP failed to prepare and implement spill prevention and countermeasure plans required by the Clean Water Act.

The government demands civil penalties and an injunction ordering BP to take action to prevent future spills, including inspecting its pipelines and facilities.

In 2007, BP Exploration pleaded guilty to criminally negligent discharge of oil.

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