Environmental group sues BP for failure to report toxins

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NEW ORLEANS --Editor - The oil spill issues are far from over, as the Center
for Biological Diversity has underlined BP violated federal law in
failing to report toxins.

According to a lawsuit filed against the oil company giant, BP's oil

spill has created more than 35,000 tons of oily waste to pile up in
landfills in the Gulf of Mexico region.  These waste products are in
addition to the millions of barrels of crude oil in the waters of the
Gulf.


"BP did provide some reports of releases of benzene and ethylbenzene to
water and air associated with prescribed surface oil burns of slicks
created by the well and platform discharges, even those reports failed
to provide the level of detail necessary to comply" with federal
requirements, claims the environmental group.


Furthermore the group maintains that many levels  of toxins and types  were unreported.


Federal law states BP had the responsibility to report any pollution.
Benzene, toluene, napthalene, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, arsenic
and mercurty are toxic chemicals.


The lawsuit underlines the fact dozens of people in Louisiana have
required hospitalization because of health problems associated with
these toxins.


The Center for Biological Diversity asks BP to pay penalties of up to
$37,500 per day for each hazardous substance it did not adequately
report.  It also has filed an injunction that requires BP to pay the
cost of any environmental damage caused by its oil spill.


Damages are being sought for violations of the Clean Water Act, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, and
the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.