Gulf groups sue BP over wildlife harm

ATLANTA – Three environmental advocacy groups sued BP on Wednesday, alleging that the company’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill harmed and killed endangered and threatened species – one of hundreds of civil suits the oil giant likely will be fighting for years.

The suit, brought by the nonprofit groups Defenders of Wildlife, Gulf Restoration Network and the Save the Manatee Club, says that the April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig blowout and the resulting oil spill “have caused and will continue to cause the take of endangered and threatened species,” including whales, manatees, birds and sea turtles that “show no avoidance response to oil slicks.”

The lawsuit, brought in federal court in New Orleans under the Endangered Species Act, will “make BP accountable for the ongoing impacts,” he said.

The suit suggests some of the ways the court could hold BP accountable, including helping to establish national marine sanctuaries and creating a permanent endowment to restore and study Gulf species. BP officials did not return a call seeking comment.

The Gulf region is home to at least 27 endangered or threatened species. The rig explosion killed 11 workers and spilled 4.1 million barrels of oil. More than 600 sea turtles were found dead, and another 456 were found alive but soiled with oil. More than 4,300 oiled birds have been found, more than half of them dead.

Long-term impacts on wildlife are unclear.