SAO PAULO, Brazil

BRAZIL’S environmental protection agency has slapped a new fine on Chevron for what it says was the US oil company’s poor handling of a spill last month off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.

Chevron was fined 10 million reals ($465.2 million) due to an alleged “breach of its environmental licence” — It did not have the necessary equipment and was slow to respond when the leak was detected, the agency announced Saturday on its website.

Chevron said in an e-mailed statement it implemenetd its emergency plan in a “timely manner”.

“The plan was deployed rapidly and standard procedures were quickly carried out in order to stem the source of the leak,” the statement said. “In just four days, a period considered excellent by industry experts, the company managed to control the source of the leak, starting the process to significantly check the flow from the seeps, which has now diminished to intermittent droplets.”

The government agency had already fined Chevron Corp 50 million reals for the oil spill, which began at the site of a Chevron appraisal well November 7, about 230 miles (370 kilometres) off the north-eastern coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Transocean Ltd is the drilling contractor for the well.

Earlier in the week, federal police asked that prosecutors charge Chevron and Transocean with crimes against the environment. Authorities also asked that charges be filed against 17 people for allegedly failing to provide information to the police.

Among those cited is George Buck, chief operating officer for Chevron Corp’s Brazilian division. If indicted and convicted, he and the others could face jail terms of up to 14 years each.

Buck has not personally responded to the allegation, but Chevron said the indictments sought were without merit.

“We will vigorously defend the company and its employees,” the company said Thursday in an emailed statement. “Chevron is confident that once all the facts are fully examined, they will demonstrate that Chevron responded appropriately and responsibly to the incident.”

A federal prosecutor also has filed an US$11 billion ($947.6 billion) lawsuit against Chevron Corp because of alleged environmental harm caused by the leak.

“During an investigation, the attorney general’s office found that Chevron and Transocean were not capable of controlling the damage caused by the spill of nearly 3,000 barrels of oil, proof of a lack of environmental planning and management by the companies,” said a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

Chevron has said the spill occurred because the company underestimated the pressure in an underwater reservoir.

Most of Brazil’s oil drilling is conducted offshore, and that is where Chevron’s work is concentrated. The company does own lubricant-manufacturing plants in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. It wasn’t clear if these operations would be affected by any decision a judge makes on the federal prosecutor’s lawsuit.

AP