Would you extend this line of thinking to the price at the pump. Let's say, hypothetically, that the end result of this is a ten cent rise in a gallon of gas, should BP be forced to make up the difference? What if the price of diesel jumps up and thus the price of fresh veggies and other consumer products jumps? Should BP also be on the hook for that? Just how much should the market and the wider society have to pay for BP's massive error? And what if BP cannot in fact entirely clean up the Gulf coast? What if the fishery is ruined for decades? Should BP be forced to pay an annual wage that averages out to be what fishermen would have received if they had been able to fish? Should BP be forced to pay for higher fish prices at restaurants and fish markets?
There are other oil companies that are not required to pay for this cleanup. Their prices will remain low. To be competitive, BP will be forced to continue selling at the same price as everyone else. So they will be unable to pass the costs on to consumers buying gasoline.
That said, BP should be responsible for *all* of these costs through damages to be awarded in court after each claimant shows proof to the court. Ideally, noone should be able to show any increase in gasoline prices due to this problem, as other oil companies remain unaffected by fines and clenaup costs, and BP has many so many other sources of oil, that this will not dramatically affect the amount of oil on the market. But anyone who can show proof of damages to the court should be compensated.
"I am, therefore I am." -- Akira