If President Barack Obama really does want to kick some ass over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, as he told NBC’s Today show, the Clean Water Act might be just the shoe to use.
Legal experts believe the Clean Water Act could be a powerful weapon to punish those involved in the accident and collect at least $4.7 billion in civil fines for the oil that’s been spilled so far. The federal legislation was bolstered following the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 to impose harsh civil and criminal penalties for oil spills.
Among the cases being developed are those under the watch of U.S. Attorney General
Eric Holder, who is preparing to pursue civil and criminal sanctions against those responsible for the spill.
-Noel Brinkerhoff