A civil lawsuit has been filed by US against British Petroleum and nine other companies for oil spill damages off the Mexican Gulf. In the complaint filed yesterday in the District Court in New Orleans, the US alleged violations of federal safety and operational regulations which contributed to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 50 miles from the Mississippi River delta. The spill caused considerable environmental damage and badly affected the economy of the coastal states. The companies have also been accused of failing to use and maintain equipment and material that were necessary to ensure the safety and protection of personnel, equipment, natural resources, and the environment. The complaint also includes claims for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act, which prohibits the unauthorised discharge of oil into the nation's waters.