BP, US in talks over Gulf spill criminal claims

Lee Celano / Reuters, file A hard hat from an oil worker lies in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on East Grand Terre Island, Louisiana in this June 8, 2010 photo. By Ian Johnston, NBC News Oil giant BP said Thursday that it was in "advanced discussions" with U.S. officials over a resolution of all U.S. federal criminal claims over the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig and massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. In a statement posted on its website, the company said the talks included claims made against BP by the Securities & Exchange Commission. "No final agreements have yet been reached and any resolutions, if agreed, would be subject to federal court approvals in the United States," the statement said. "A further announcement will be made if and when final agreements are reached. Until final agreements are reached, there can be no certainty any such resolutions will be entered into," it added. A BP spokesman declined to comment further when asked to do so by NBC News. Gerald Herbert / AP The April 20, 2010, explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig triggered a summer of oil spills, cleanup, lost jobs and plenty of frustration. View select images from the disaster. The statement said the "proposed resolutions" were "not expected to cover federal civil claims" and others. These included: Clean Water Act claims; Federal and state Natural Resource Damage Assessment claims; Some private civil claims and private securities claims; State economic loss claims. PhotoBlog: Cat Island pelicans see habitat shrinking 2 years after Gulf spill The talks are separate from a March settlement whereby BP agreed to pay plaintiffs $7.8 billion for damages. It is expected that the settlement of remaining criminal and civil claims over the 2010 spill could run into billions of dollars. Eleven workers on the Deepwater Horizon were killed in the explosion that led to the spill. BP, Obama administration near spill deal but gulf lawmakers wary But Gulf Coast lawmakers from both parties last month expressed concern the terms will send most of the money to the federal government instead of the affected states. "The Obama administration could be cutting a deal that allows BP to write off much of the fines as a tax deduction," Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., said in a statement in October. "What's more, the bulk of the penalty collected by the federal government would essentially be walled off from local control to be doled out as the administration sees fit." Read coverage of the spill from 2010 Archival video: The people of the Gulf Coast have survived hurricanes, but 128 days after the BP oil spill disaster, they're struggling to see a way forward. NBC's Anne Thompson reports. More content from NBCNews.com: Obama: GOP criticism of UN ambassador over Benghazi attack is 'outrageous' In 911 calls, Kelley tries to invoke diplomatic immunity Etan Patz suspect indicted on murder, kidnapping charges, sources say 'I got the wrong Courtney': Man picks up incorrect girl from school Storm system could snarl East Coast holiday travel Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook