Judge accepts agreement between Transocean and prosecutors on oil spill fines . `` This was a tragic accident , resulting from multiple causes and involving multiple parties , '' he said . The settlement is the first of its kind in U.S. history for a major offshore spill. Transocean pleaded guilty last week to criminal violations of the Clean Water Act . A separate civil trial begins next week to determine the cause of the accident .
Judge accepts agreement between Transocean and prosecutors on oil spill fines . The settlement is the first of its kind in U.S. history for a major offshore spill. Transocean pleaded guilty last week to criminal violations of the Clean Water Act . A separate civil trial begins next week to determine the cause of the accident .