ELI Deepwater Horizon Litigation Resources

Since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill began, ELI has attempted to provide resources to affected communities and responsible parties to help the region recover from this disaster. This includes both generating new materials and disseminating existing resources, some of which are static and some of which are ongoing and updated as frequently as possible.

Lectures and Panel Discussions

• Oil Pollution Update (January 31, 2013 — ELI, Washington DC). Click on the link to access a summary, audio recording, and presentations from this seminar providing a review of recent OPA litigation, including the BP criminal agreement, legislation allocating potential civil penalties, and the natural resource damages assessment.

• Implementing the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act: Key Considerations and Opportunities (July 13, 2012 — ELI, Washington DC). Click on the link to access a summary and audio recording from this seminar describing the implications of the newly-passed RESTORE Act.

• Early Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico: When, Why, and How (September 20, 2011 — ELI, Washington DC). Click on the link to access a summary, audio recording, and presentations from this seminar describing the early restoration process initiated in 2011.

• The Oil Spill Liability Framework (May 24, 2010 — ELI, Washington DC). Click on the link to access a summary, audio recording, and presentations from a seminar outlining the liability framework for damages caused by oil spills.

Publications

• Environmental Law Reporter Special Report: Scientific, Economic, and Legal Lessons from the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster (November 2010).

• Oil Pollution Deskbook, 2d edition (2012).

Education and Outreach

• Participating in Deepwater Horizon Restoration and Recovery Processes (2010 - ongoing). ELI is engaged in efforts to educate Gulf Coast communities and leaders about the law, policy, and management issues surrounding the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. In particular, ELI aims to support public engagement in the multiple ongoing ecological and economic restoration processes. With local partners, ELI develops and updates factsheets (in multiple languages) that describe the various processes and opportunities for meaningful public participation. ELI has hosted numerous training sessions and workshops throughout the region to help people explore these subjects and opportunities for Gulf residents to help shape restoration in a way that benefits their communities and the environment.