As the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday a final settlement with BP over the devastating 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, groups are warning that the oil giant may still nab a substantial tax break under the deal.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the $20.8 billion settlement agreement marks the “the largest settlement with a single entity in American history.” The resolution includes $5.5 billion to settle civil claims under the Clean Water Act; $7.1 billion in natural resources damages claims under the Oil Pollution Act, in addition to the $1 billion previously committed for early restoration; and $4.9 billion in economic damages claims to the five Gulf states and up to $1 billion for local governments.