Jury Orders Chevron to Pay $744.6 million to Remediate Louisiana Wetlands

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A jury ordered oil giant Chevron to pay $744.6 million to remediate its damage to coastal wetlands in southeast Louisiana.

Chevron plans to appeal.

This case is the first to reach trial among dozens of cases against major oil companies for their part in accelerating Louisiana’s loss of coastal wetlands. A 1978 Louisiana law required oil companies to get permits for their work in environmentally sensitive areas and remediate sites that they used, restoring the sites “as near as practicable to their original condition” after they finished using the sites.

The jury found that they didn’t get all the required permits and left sites significantly damaged.

Plaquemines Parishbrought the lawsuit, asking for $2.6 billion in damages. Even though the jury aware is a large landmark, it is far short of what was requested. The award includes $575 million in compensation for land loss, $161 million for contamination and $8.6 million for abandoned equipment. Funds earmarked for restoration total more than $1.1 billion including interest.

Chevron reported earnings of $3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024.

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