BP announced July 2, 2015 that its United States Upstream subsidiary has executed agreements with the U.S. federal government and five U.S. Gulf Coast states to resolve claims made by federal, state, and more than 400 local government entities. In the agreement, BP has committed to paying up to US$ 18.7 billion spread over 18 years. Settlement terms are as follows:

The year 2010 has reminded us once again that management of EHS responsibilities can have a substantial impact on people, the environment, and a company’s bottom line. In this article, Lawrence Cahill asks whether the EHS audit profession has lost its way and needs to develop a new approach.