The US has filed a lawsuit against oil giant BP and 8 other oil firms to seek compensation for damages caused by this year's disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, PressTV reported.
The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department with a federal court in New Orleans, charges the companies under the US Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act.
The move came as thousands of individuals and small businesses have already sued the oil giant.
The companies will face trial for "violations of safety and operational regulations" in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday.
"We intend to prove that these violations caused or contributed to the massive oil spill and that the defendants are therefore responsible under the Oil Pollution Act for government removal losses, economic losses, as well as environmental damages," AFP quoted Holder as saying.
"We're also seeking civil penalties under the Clean Water Act which prohibits the unauthorized use of oil in the waters," he added.
Holder said that the firms are also responsible for cleaning up costs in addition to economic and environmental losses.
BP has said that it will cooperate with the US government in this regard.
"BP will answer the government's allegations in a timely manner and will continue to cooperate with all government investigations and inquiries," said the firm in a statement.
On April 20, an explosion in the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig caused the largest oil spill in the US history.
According to official estimates, more than four million barrels of crude leaked into the Gulf of Mexico after BP's Macondo oil well blew up, killing 11 workers.
The disaster hit the region's fisheries and tourism industry from Louisiana to Florida.
The massive oil spill continues to impact the Gulf environment and economy.
The BP fund was set up in June in response to public outcry and political pressure from the White House, following the worst- ever offshore oil spill in the United States.
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