Halliburton is expected to plead guilty to the destruction of evidence related to the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in 2010.

The agreement, made with the United States Department of Justice includes paying the maximum fine of $200,000 — and has indeed, already made a $55 million contribution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Indeed, the United States has agreed not to pursue further criminal prosecution in exchange for further cooperation in the ongoing  criminal investigation.

Government regulation has once again triumphed.  Halliburton has admitted that it destroyed results of simulations involved cement blocking the blown oil well — the results showing the cementing was unstable and would not work.  Hiding these results, it went ahead with the attempt anyway, which acted as a contractor to the United States Government.  Was this done strictly so it could make the attempt and collect the money — regardless of what happens; and damn the rest?

In an era where people are calling for less government regulation overall — this goes to show that government oversight of business, particularly in government contractors, is a good thing.  Halliburton lied to the people of the United States, then proceeded to go forth with a project that they knew probably wouldn’t work, knowing the results of the simulations — trampling and dishonoring the lives of those who were not only lost, but to the families of those who lost their loved ones, livelihood and those who worked tirelessly to restore habitats and our sea.

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