The core of the legislation would require automatic jail sentences for a company’s CEO in the event of a fossil fuel spill exceeding 1000 gallons that can be reasonably attributed to negligence, with negligence construed in the broadest possible manner, in combination with a $1000 fine for every gallon spilled.

At the 10,000 gallon mark penalties would be higher.

At 50,000 gallons or more, the corporation’s assets would be seized by the government, auctioned to another party not to include anyone associated with the folded company. This would be followed by felony prosecution against corporate officers, with long jail sentences if found guilty.

If such a regime were in place right now, you can be certain that BP’s Gulf crime would have been less likely to occur.