Clean Water Act lawsuit against BP announced as legal scrutiny mounts

They say the ongoing leak — which federal officials estimate is occurring at a rate of 12,000 to 19,000 barrels of oil per day — is a violation of BP’s requirement to minimize or prevent discharges that harm health or the environment.

The groups allege the April 20 well blowout at the Deepwater Horizon rig and events that led up to it show BP failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the discharges.

“Despite the obvious potential for catastrophic consequences, BP reportedly has chosen to use cheaper, riskier operational methods and equipment, thus increasing the likelihood that a discharge of this nature would occur,” the groups state.