Galveston Port’s case against BP is just business
http://galvestondailynews.com/story/319706
By Heber Taylor
The Daily News
Published June 4, 2012
It hit some people the wrong way — the news that the Galveston wharves board and park board were pursuing claims against BP in the Deepwater Horizon spill.
The city of Galveston still is trying to decide whether to take legal action.
Some people offended by the news point out that BP is one of Galveston County’s biggest employers. It’s a significant payer of local taxes and a major contributor to worthy causes.
These folks argue that the claims by local governments seem disloyal, especially since Galveston suffered no readily discernible environmental damage from the spill.
Others say local governments should get in on the money that BP already has allocated to pay claims.
If you’re wondering what to think of the debate, start by avoiding generalizations about the claims and note the range of merit.
The port has a strong argument. Some of its main tenants were crippled by the moratorium on drilling that the catastrophe prompted. The spill affected the port’s bottom line.
The question is not whether that’s true. The question is: How much?
The park board’s claim is not as strong. The spill damaged beaches in other states, not in Galveston. But the spill also put a damper on tourism across the Gulf, and tourism revenues were down in Galveston after the spill. Should BP be punished for perception?
If there is a claim there, it’s not nearly as compelling as the port’s. The city’s case appears weaker still.
But the port’s case has nothing to do with loyalty. It’s just business.
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LOL, the moratorium was caused by the Feds.
If feasible BP should pull their operations out of Galveston. I know, not a practical idea, but this litigation seems a bit opportunistic.
Just saying’ !