BP in more trouble for Alaska oil spills

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- BP could face more penalties for an Alaska oil spill after a federal official asked a judge to revoke its probation.

Probation officer Mary Barnes filed a petition Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage accusing BP of criminal negligence before a spill on the North Slope in November 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported. The conduct violated its probation for a 2006 spill, she said.

Federal Judge John Roberts ordered BP to appear in his court Dec. 20, and the company said it would file a response.

BP has been on probation for the 2006 spill from a corroded pipeline that released 200,000 gallons of oil and was the worst in the history of the North Slope.

In November 2007 BP's Alaska unit admitted a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act, was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $20 million in penalties and restitution.

BP says it has honored the deal by replacing the oil transit line system and installing better leak detection systems.

Bankers have indicated BP may sell its Alaska holdings as part of $30 billion in divestments to cover costs from the Gulf of Mexico disaster.