Interior issues second round of violation notices to BP over Gulf spill

BSEE issued an initial set of violation notices in October to BP, Deepwater Horizon rig owner Transocean and Halliburton, which performed cement work on the well. The notices were based on a joint Interior Department-U.S. Coast Guard report that blamed the companies for the spill.

Wednesday’s notices stem from an additional review of evidence conducted by BSEE staff.

BP has 60 days to appeal the violations, after which time BSEE will weigh imposing civil penalties on the company.

Michael Bromwich, the former director of BSEE, has long called on Congress to increase the maximum civil penalties allowed under the low, arguing they are too low.

He said last month that BSEE is working to streamline the penalty process so there is less time between issuing violation notices and imposing penalties.