Delaware News

Attorney General Biden’s office moves to hold BP accountable if oil damages state’s coastline

Civil Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010



Attorney General Biden’s office moves to hold BP accountable if oil damages state’s coastline
Joins 10 other Atlantic coast states in demanding company pay for any damage caused by oil spill.

Attorney General Beau Biden’s Office announced today that it has begun taking steps
that will be necessary to protect Delaware’s coastline if oil from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico washes
up in Delaware.

“Attorney General Biden felt it was important to act now so we are prepared to protect
Delaware’s beaches, wildlife and other natural resources,” said State Solicitor Lawrence Lewis.
“Delaware beaches are a key part of the high quality of life we enjoy and are critical to our economy.
If oil from this spill does damage Delaware’s environment and economy, we will be ready to act to
hold the responsible companies accountable for our losses.”
Biden and 10 other Attorneys General from Atlantic coast states sent a letter to BP and its
affiliated companies Halliburton, Transocean and Cameron on Monday, June 21, requesting that they:
• formally agree to pay all legitimate claims in the Atlantic states related to the oil spill
• designate an employee to work with the offices of the Attorneys General to facilitate fast
communication regarding spill issues
• preserve all documents and other material, such as electronic data, related to the April 20 oil
spill and the companies’ response to the environmental disaster
“Our role as the chief lawyers for our respective states is to protect the interests of our people,
the health of our environment and to provide legal advice to our states,” the letter states. “Though the
immediate area of impact from this catastrophe is in the Gulf region, portions of the East Coast are at
foreseeable risk of substantial harm. Should the oil make its way into the Gulf Stream, our coastal
areas, natural resources and the livelihoods of our coastal communities and people could be threatened.
. . .Even if our coastal waters and communities are not directly impacted, there may well be significant
harm to the migratory bird and fish species that form an important part of our natural resources and
economy.”

# # #

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Attorney General Biden’s office moves to hold BP accountable if oil damages state’s coastline

Civil Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010



Attorney General Biden’s office moves to hold BP accountable if oil damages state’s coastline
Joins 10 other Atlantic coast states in demanding company pay for any damage caused by oil spill.

Attorney General Beau Biden’s Office announced today that it has begun taking steps
that will be necessary to protect Delaware’s coastline if oil from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico washes
up in Delaware.

“Attorney General Biden felt it was important to act now so we are prepared to protect
Delaware’s beaches, wildlife and other natural resources,” said State Solicitor Lawrence Lewis.
“Delaware beaches are a key part of the high quality of life we enjoy and are critical to our economy.
If oil from this spill does damage Delaware’s environment and economy, we will be ready to act to
hold the responsible companies accountable for our losses.”
Biden and 10 other Attorneys General from Atlantic coast states sent a letter to BP and its
affiliated companies Halliburton, Transocean and Cameron on Monday, June 21, requesting that they:
• formally agree to pay all legitimate claims in the Atlantic states related to the oil spill
• designate an employee to work with the offices of the Attorneys General to facilitate fast
communication regarding spill issues
• preserve all documents and other material, such as electronic data, related to the April 20 oil
spill and the companies’ response to the environmental disaster
“Our role as the chief lawyers for our respective states is to protect the interests of our people,
the health of our environment and to provide legal advice to our states,” the letter states. “Though the
immediate area of impact from this catastrophe is in the Gulf region, portions of the East Coast are at
foreseeable risk of substantial harm. Should the oil make its way into the Gulf Stream, our coastal
areas, natural resources and the livelihoods of our coastal communities and people could be threatened.
. . .Even if our coastal waters and communities are not directly impacted, there may well be significant
harm to the migratory bird and fish species that form an important part of our natural resources and
economy.”

# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.