Lawyers suit of Gulf spill want claims czar reined (AP)

By HARRY r. Weber, Associated Press Harry r. Weber, an associated press-Tue Dec 21, 5: 45 am ET

New Orleans – lawyers leads for people and businesses causes over Gulf spill oil wants to overseeing their cases federal judge to rein administrator victims compensation of 20 billion Fund BP this set.

Fund Manager that describes the game as a soldier Feinberg Ken BP shell is designed to settle claims as many as possible to avoid lawsuits, lawyers asked u.s. District Judge Charles Barbier scathing statement giving a lengthy and subject to change in order to form the third release to sign if they receive the final payment from the Feinberg.

Lawyers say people should just give up the right to claim compensatory damages for BP if they receive the final payment from the Fund, but they are still allowed to go after BP Court punitive. In addition, lawyers say, people to receive final payments from the Fund should be allowed to sue other parties responsible for damage both compensatory and punitive.

More people get final payments from the Fund and agree not to sue BP or any other party responsible for, the less potential clients for lawyers plaintiffs who already have filed lawsuits over more than 300 oil spill.

The Foundation is separate from the oil spill litigation, but lawyers say that Barbier authoritative to intervene to protect victims spill.

Feinberg now requires people to receive final agree not to claim payments BP or any other party, including responsible companies with exploded rig Deepwater horizon, April 20, off Côte Louisiana.

Blast killed 11 workers, led to more than 200 million gallons of oil spewing from BP undersea well, according to Government estimates that BP disputes.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs want also false reminder BP is pay firm of Feinberg per month to manage the sold! Foundation.

"By all appearances, Mr. Feinberg — its approach towards the timing and nature of the proposed settlement, in its deliberative process protection from disclosure and full releases security assignments of BP satisfaction — look to distinguish vanhotia defense attorney tries to settle cases on behalf of BP," wrote their lawyers filing in Federal Court in New Orleans.

Reached on his cell phone, Feinberg declined to comment. BP did not respond to requests for comment. There was no ruling immediately. Lawyers are seeking hearing January 5.

President Barack Obama appointed to administer the Fund BP Feinberg who has agreed to set up after the explosion.

So far, the Fund must pay out 2.55 billion to 167,555 lie. Some false 73,000 requested final payments.

Money remains the principal is expected to be returned BP.

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Fed Board: companies save from oil spill proof (AP)

By HARRY r. Weber, Associated Press Harry r. Weber, Fri associated press releases — December 24, 3: 16 am ET

New Orleans – reliability investigation of Gulf is being undermined difficult because oil spill that companies representatives has done or is a piece of evidence in the key — preventer yourself — were too accessible as it is in progress analysis, Federal Panel says.

The United States may be allowed on board safety, monitoring and analysis, demanded a letter head of the Bureau of the ocean, and the 5th energy management, regulation, enforcement and will not stop this test until you remove all the Transocean Vkamron officials practical role of the testing device 300 tons.

An employee of Transocean — the owner of the drilling rig, which exploded in the Bay — was removed as consultant for Norwegian firm that performs the test, but the Ocean Energy Agency says that other companies provided their expertise accordingly. Still there are conflicts claims of the Board.

The Board, as well as other companies and suppliers involved, has been granted access to the test is limited, but he says his representatives have already quit out of tests include multiple delegates of Transocean and international Cameroon, made preventer.

The Board wants the firm leads the test also, Det Norske Veritas, ended or at least was guided by a neutral third party. He also demanded the photographic and video evidence of work conducted at the time of its representatives were closed testing.

"Considering the history well-publicized of improper relationships between minerals management service and former petroleum, one expects an exceptional treatment to be BOP checking over audit," said the Chairman of the Board safety Rafael Moure-Eraso the signal. "One expects, the second set of eyes as the CSB to be appreciated. Unfortunately this is not the case. "

Change the name of the Bureau of ocean energy MMS, regulation and enforcement after both scathing reports by Federal Inspector General. Reports become drug use and sex among executive agency workers and gas industry, oil-drilling hrgoltorim received gifts and negotiate travel companies and gas and go to work in the industry while overseeing it.

An investigation team is shared with the leading self is Bureau team preventer yourself along with the u.s. Coast Guard. Safety Board is an independent federal agency that investigates accidents, serious chemical.

Following the explosion rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 20th April preventer yourself with BP failed to perform the work of the well: stop the flow of oil into the sea. 11 workers were the stove, and some 200 million litres of oil were released by BP undersea well, according to Government estimates that BP disputes.

The device was uploaded from the seafloor on September 4, 16 November and testing process at a facility in New Orleans Lmank. Mostly technicians already have disassembly and made no preventer on your own determination about why he is not working, according to people briefed on the progress, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

Preventers yourself any exploratory wells wellhead to sit should lock in place to prevent a spill in the case of an explosion. They are out on your own by squeezing rubber stamps tightly around the pipes with up to 1 million pounds of force. If you fail, your own stamps preventer deploys a last line of Defense: a set of deer slice right through pipes yourself the cap.

In a letter sent earlier this month, Michael Bromwich, Director of the Energy Agency of the ocean, the Safety Board include picture Transocean subsea responsible for Evan, McWhorter, removing RAM pipe top of preventer yourself on 10 December.

Spokeswoman for Agency Bromwich, Melissa Schwartz, said Thursday the firm handling the DNV, check, allowed McWhorter do strong investigators to federal workers. She said that McWhorter has been removed from within days.

Schwartz said that already allowed companies to provide technical expertise through an agreement between the parties for the purpose of answering all questions of technical team DNV testing may have. Representatives of these companies are only observers, and the test is not involved, she said.

Transocean said in a brief e-mail to confirm my Safety Board are completely moprcht "charges". Did not elaborate.

Det Norske Veritas spokesman, Collins Blaine, said in an e-mail message to THE AP that he could not comment, with regard to questions of agency Bromwich.

Besides the Board, Cameron, Transocean, others allowed to monitor the test are BP, the Justice Department, and an expert representing the plaintiffs result in severe civil and criminal legal of oil spill in New Orleans multi-district.

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For many victims of the Gulf oil spill, holiday's (AP)

PORT of sulphur, introduction — even before Gulf oil spill, Reddick Jennifer was only getting there by lives paycheck paycheck as it tried to support six children in 400 dollars a week she did work part-time as creator net deckhand and shrimp.

Then well BP blew out off the coast of Louisiana, ????????? tourists and shut down. Now is all work and money not to buy her a new holiday toys or clothes. Charities providing they can, but it is difficult to Reddick take handouts.

"There has never been easier before, but we could make it," said Reddick, 30, of the small fishing town of Buris, along the Mississippi River. "I even I couldn't afford the Christmas this year for the children."

For many people in the Gulf Coast, there must be lots of Christmas cheer.

More than five months since the bar was capped at last after spewing millions of gallons of bots into the Bay. Shrimpers and they occupy and selling only oystermen fraction of previous work. Business owners who saw summer of loss of revenue is still struggling to pay their bills, and many lay off employees to make it through the slow winter months.

Louisiana Society of beach has assets see requests for help. Many come from people who have never asked for assistance before.

"After Katrina, it wasn't like that," said Joannie Hughes, who together with Vickie Perrin has once across the area to move night Christmas Toys families 112.

Perrin said economic impact only begins to ripple through communities, from fishermen to grocery shops and restaurants.

"He, like a pebble thrown into the pond. And we are only a few waves, "she said.

Second Harvest Food Bank has also a big families seeking assistance with food for the first time. Since may, the Group has distributed more than 1 million pounds of food in 12 regions of Louisiana, the equivalent of the meals 844,760, families injured by spill, said spokeswoman Leslie Doles.

That is in addition to more than 9 million pounds of food to give these people a poor districts during the months it, mostly families who need assistance in any case.

After the spill, many people found temporary jobs on oil cleaning crew, but these operations the winding. Some lost money due to spill their first payment still pending from 20 billion Fund established by BP compensate the victims, while others have to pay only a fraction of what it claims to be lost.

The program includes some of the more than 168,000 false charges 2.5 billion. Was to submit claims 467,000.

Sports fishing guide Helmer Mike received money Fund BP to cover his summer of losses, but business is still down more than 50%, is coping with whether to accept Commission final from the company requiring him to sign his claim at a later time.

"This is betting that we simply don't know what the next year will be like, or the year after that," said Helmer. "So there is no real bet."

For him, Christmas brings only more concerns. He tries to keep the holidays as close to normal as possible for his wife and two children, but do not know if it is the pressure will also be a business over the next few years he wears it.

"It's a lot of things in the back of my mind," said Helmer. "We're not the poverty line, but it's still that keeps us in the future."

Isadore Creppel Carter, 57, shrimper Venice city, already has support himself as a fisherman since he was 16. Has weathered hurricanes and economic downturns for years and always to sign back in and it was provided. But now accumulated bills.

He has worked since the spill outside and said he couldn't work for BP to clear because of their asthma. He received money from the oil company, "but not nearly what I target".

"I always say to myself, things will get better, it would be better down the road, like the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "But now, it feels like only cancelled it light BP".

He was a medicine for stress and depression, which only has it worse with the holidays. There will be no toys sent his grandchildren, the book does not provide or dolls.

"Not going to have us Christmas this year," he said.

Reddick, mother of six, he said that it is trying to keep it together for children this Christmas.

"I don't want them to see me cry," she said.

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Gulf oil spill could usher in new agency for food safety (AP)

WASHINGTON the presidential Panel examines the massive Gulf oil spill probably President Barack Obama next year new ways for the Federal Government and the oil industry, offshore drilling monitor security recommend.

Experts with the presidential oil spill Commission Thursday recommended that oil and gas companies drilling off a U.S. Coast Security Institute similar to establish the nuclear industry after the 1979 three mile Iceland accident formed. The Institute would lapse address to the Gulf spill led.

They also said that the Federal Government requires an independent agency offshore workers, ensure drilling rigs and production platforms operate safely.

Personal recommendations, and the jury members reactions are the first signs where the Commission is directed, as it prepares to report version of the President in January on the final.

The Commission said on Thursday that the disaster that from the Macondo well burst of questionable decisions and management failures of three companies led: BP PLC, the owner and operator. Transocean Ltd., the rig's owner; Halliburton co., which was set to mix and pump cement, which is crucial to ensure well against a blowout.

"This perception that Macondo decisions the consequence of a company was easy in some circles the oil and gas industry, is not," said William k. Reilly, a former environmental protection agency Administrator under President George h. w. Bush and co Chair of the Panel. "It has conclusively and undeniably established was that we have a bigger problem than that."

The Panel found 11 decisions by these companies increased risk. Most saved time and all, but there was a safer alternative.

"All of these companies were involved - as the primary decision maker, or in the decision-making process," said Richard Sears, senior science and technical advisor to the Commission. "To think these three companies that screwed up as this bothers me."

The panel's staff called for a separation of powers within the Interior Department which renamed and reorganized its offshore drilling agency after the golf accident his billing and collecting money further obligations arising from the enforcement of safety and environmental laws to share.

The new Government Security Agency - could be that, inside or outside of the Department - should be led by an engineer would be not politically appointed experts said.

"This control would have a mandate - security and is the technical integrity of these institutions," said Shirley Neff, a senior analyst at the Commission.

On the side of the industry it security experts said by the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and gas Association be pursued should, drafts of standards, but also on behalf of an industry of lobby.

___

Online:

National Commission for oil spill: http://www.oilspillcommission.gov

(This version corrected name of Richard Sears in 8th paragraph.)

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Jamaica probes oil spill in the capital port (AP)

KINGSTON, Jamaica efforts are underway to spill clean up an oil in the port of Jamaica's capital.

Agency says the slick in the port of Kingston between an oil refinery Island emergency management and a power plant is located.

The Agency said in a statement Sunday that police discovered the origin of the spill, examines Saturday.

Officials say that the oil contamination was clarifies and had no direct impact on the city itself. However, was not immediately clear how much fuel into the water had spilled.

Authorities are still investigated, a November 22 spill in the capital port that seventh - largest natural harbour in the world.

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North Slope spill focuses on flow lines (AP) report

Anchorage, Alaska - a new status report on Alaska North Slope oil leaks comes to the conclusion that the flow lines, moving of crude oil, water and natural gas from well to establishments require increased monitoring.

The report by the State Department of environmental conservation revised extracted aging infrastructure and process oil, which moves finally through the Trans Alaska pipeline unloaded its first barrel in port Valdez in 1977.

Federal regulators to monitor the Trans Alaska pipeline and other crude oil lines on the north slope. The State monitoring flow lines.

The State report was ordered by the Alaska to large overflow in 2006. One was in a State-controlled oil line leading from a processing plant.

Larry Dietrick State spill response Director, said on Thursday, the report dripping hundreds of spill reports from pinhole on leaks from more than 10,000 gallons, checks with a view to predicting future events.

The study covered hundreds of miles of pipeline in the massive oil fields, processing centers and storage tanks all components in the system-. The No. 1 culprit for leaks are said valve seals.

"But our large spill problems are all flow lines," he said because of the potential for a large spill.

Some of the flow line pipes are great - as much as 24 inches in diameter, said Dietrick. Enter the most corrosive materials on the slopes, he said the three way combination of oil, gas and water. And unlike a crude oil pipeline, the implementation of a single fluid you cannot watch for leaks 24 hours a day by a machine.

"They have an automated leak detection," he said. "Due to not run right the three phases flow meters get."

Instead you are manually checked but if an inspector only once every three days could have eyeballs you two days of spillage you before a leak is detected, he said.

Corrosion is a common cause of leaks and external corrosion was the most common cause of the failure flow lines.

The report did not detect that changes in the number of spills per year but proposed that the frequency of spills has increased more than 1,000 gallons.

The report with industry, such as fire or gas leaks not assess other risks.

The DEC is a conference sponsor examine advances in leak detection technology. The results are calculated for potential new leak detection regulations for flow lines.

DEC works sanctions for spills with the Department of law, whether statutes require update to examine.

It is a challenge for the industry and regulators alike for how to change the terms in the oil fields keep Dietrick said. If sediment in rows was created, so you can corrosion by microbes, which in the sediments of life.

The industry uses more that 2 million gallons of protective equipment per year.

"The problem is not that there is no program,", he said. "It's a challenge to keep the programs calibrated to the changing conditions."

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New BP challenge to size spill influence could fine (AP)

WASHINGTON BP is mounting a new challenge of U.S. Government estimates of how much oil from the runaway well deep flowed under the Gulf of Mexico, an argument that reduce from billions of dollars Federal pollution could fines, for the largest offshore oil faces in history to spill.

BP's lawyers argue, that the Government contested the spilling of 20 to 50 percent, employees work for the presidential elections spill oil Commission Friday said. By the associated press says BP of Government spill estimate of 206 million gallons "overvalued by a significant amount" is retrieved in a 10 page document and any consensus on this number said the company is premature and inaccurate.

The company sent the Commission document, the Ministry of Justice and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"Rely on incomplete or inaccurate information, the recovery in large part on assumptions not validated and are subject to the far greater uncertainties as confirmed," wrote BP. "BP intends to present fully own estimate as soon as the information available is the science to get right."

The company said in a statement Friday estimates of the Government for equipment, the flow of oil and gas, such as for example, Blowout preventer which hinder his numbers could account "very unreliable."

BP's request could save you as much as $ 10.5 billion, or as little as $1.1 billion, depending on factors such as whether the Government comes to the conclusion that BP acted negligently. For context, protection agency was's environmental US all federal budget for $2010 10.3 billion. President Barack Obama said he wants to put Congress to set aside some of the money BP pays for fines for the Gulf of coastal restoration. Louisiana legislators urge legislation that would require at least 80 percent of the civil and criminal penalties against BP and other companies, are returned to the Gulf Coast.

William k. Reilly, co-Chair of the Presidential Commission astonishment at BP's case Friday expressed. O'Reilly was the environmental protection agency under President George h. Bush.

"Go to say that it 50% less" than the Government throughout? Reilly asked. "Wow."

Under the clean water Act, the oil Giants - owned and operated by the well - faces fines of up to $1,100 for each barrel oil that spilled. If BP found committed gross negligence or intent, the fine might be up to $4,300 per barrel.

This means that on the Government's estimate of 206 million gallons, BP could only face civil fines ranging between $5.4 billion and US $ 21.1 billion.

"You go to argue it less, was," said Priya Aiyar, Deputy chief counsel of the Commission. "BP has not yet offered his own numbers but BP told us that it thinks the Government figures are too high and thinks, the actual throughput may be actually 20 to 50 percent less."

Republic Edward j. Markey, D-mass., a member of the House energy panels examined spill, said in a statement Friday to the AP, BP has done, what it could to avoid spilling the true flow rate of.

"With billions of dollars at stake, it is no surprise that are now that much to process numbers, compromising you wanted", Markey said. "The Government hired independent scientists and several techniques to reach your estimate." Additional independent peer-reviewed studies have confirmed your estimate. "BP has this estimate overthrow a high bar to meet."

BP's argument could be strengthened by the Federal Government missteps in coming up with a final estimate for the spill's volume. The Obama Government has almost 10 estimates how much oil from the BP well raft, coming up with a refined degree end month of 206 million gallons, which probably last to his offered.

Internal documents released late Friday under the freedom of Information Act show that the White House was closely involved in critical scientific information to the public, was presented, especially when it comes to August came 4 version of a document that showed where the spilled oil had gone. The five page report has been touted by Carol Browner, energy advisor to the President on morning talk shows and White House Press Conference showed that half the oil was way - either by evaporation, burn, skimming or recovery at the well head.

The 3,500 pages of documents show that the Government wanted to show the oil budget, their efforts have been working to deal with the disaster, despite the objections of top EPA officials, including administrator Lisa Jackson, about how some of the data introduced.

An earlier version of the press release which said the paper that 33 percent of the oil was released captured or mitigated by recovery efforts.

A final version changed said hours before its release, the spilled oil recovery fixed 'vast majority' efforts had naturally scattered or evaporates.

Appeared this morning, Browner on national television that say that an initial assessment of Federal scientists showed "More than three-quarters of the oil is gone."

In an E-mail sent later this morning addressed to Browner's Assistant, Heather Zichal, criticized NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco with White House interpretation of report numbers and granting report exclusively on NOAA. The report was drafted by multiple agencies.

"I am concerned that oil budget report shows how he said that 75 percent of the oil is gone and that this is a NOAA report to hear," writes Lubchenco. "Please help ensure both fixed." The White House acknowledged Browner had transmission poke.

It was only right to say that half of the oil was gone Lubchenco explains.

___

Associated press writer Seth Borenstein and Matthew Daly in Washington and Harry R. Weber in New Orleans contributed to this report.

___

Online:

National Commission for oil spill: http://www.oilspillcommission.gov

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Obama returns drilling oil expansion to BP spill (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AFP) President Barack Obama Wednesday a March decision on enlargement of offshore oil exploration on the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Gulf of Mexico reversed, but drilling in the part of the Gulf of BP disaster allows affected deepwater further.

Moving of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced would ban until 2017 beyond oil and gas exploration in areas where there currently no drilling activity, such as in the eastern Gulf of Mexico before the coast of Florida, and the Centre and South Atlantic oceans.

Drilling in the Arctic, where only a company, shell, to a marketing authorisation submitted to drill a well, would "caution," said Salazar continue.

Made the reverse was a stricter legislation and stricter safety regulations for offshore drilling, "at the end of the oil spill deepwater horizon" with him brought Salazar said.

"We reviewed have our first March announcement... to focus and expand our critical resources on areas of leases that are currently active", Salazar said.

But the change in the policy had no effect on drilling in the central or Western Gulf of Mexico, where an explosion at BP's deepwater horizon rig on May 20 the worst maritime oil disaster in U.S. history raised.

"The modified plan currently lease sales in Western and Central Europe Golf Mexico calculated, subject to strict environmental analysis, continue allows", Salazar said.

The decision brought mixed responses from law in States that were affected by the Gulf oil spill or off would have seen your coast oil platforms, if exploration in the Atlantic and Eastern Gulf ahead gone.

Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson said the decision would ensure his State's vital tourism and fishing industry and Florida's "unique environment."

Democrat Edward Markey of Massachusetts, the most important energy panels in the House of representatives said chairs, showed the change in politics "Obama management listened the lessons learned from the disaster of BP"

"This plan will move America forward on a prudent path until we can ensure that if an oil company drill target genes, it is ultra secure,", he said.

But Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, the condition of which was affected most by the BP disaster as the decision a "step backward" for the security of energy supply.

"The original five-year plan... signaled that this Government has been seriously jobs and our nation?" s energy security.

"Despite the strict new security regulations are now needed by an accident deepwater horizon, this Government has decided a turnaround, make" she said.

The conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce beat Obama management for the storage of "America's abundant oil and natural gas resources under lock and key... ensure that we continue to increase our dependence on foreign oil."

Republican Congressman John Culberson Texas gave the thumbs down the move, saying it would "increase energy prices, dampen economic growth, American jobs abroad send and add more pain and suffering on American consumers in these difficult economic times."

And Kenneth Cohen of oil giant ExxonMobil said that the decision would "eliminate much-needed revenue, inhibit to increase employment and dependence on imported energy."

Environmental groups, which had bitter rejected the March decision to open up new areas in the Atlantic and Eastern Gulf oil and gas exploration was the announcement of a mixed feelings.

The natural resources Defense Council (NRDC) movement said "go not far enough", because it left the door open for drilling in the Arctic and allowed seismic tests in the Atlantic Ocean, both of those could jeopardize fragile environments and the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

Athan Manuel Sierra Club environmental group said that keeping was drilling from the eastern Gulf and Atlantic a "step in the right direction... an oil spill as BP disaster überall-- could happen in Alaska or the Central and Western Gulf, where drilling is allowed."

The explosion on the deepwater horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico 11 workers killed and caused a record 4.9 million barrels or 185 million gallons of crude oil spewing into the sea, crippling the fishing and tourism industry in the Gulf Coast and immense damage in the fragile eco-system caused.

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