Scott West, an EPA special agent who investigated BP’s oil spills in Alaska, alleges that the U.S. Department of Justice prematurely ended the investigation by settling for a $20 million fine when EPA estimates for such criminal offences ranged between $58-90 million, Reuters reports.

The oil spill in March 2006 was caused by a broken corroded pipeline that spilled 210,000 gallons of crude, while another took place five months later. West accused the DoJ of agreeing to settle for less even before a meeting with the BP lawyers.

London-based BP pleaded guilty to charges under the Clean Water Act and agreed to pay $20 million in fines in an Alaskan court. The fine, though large compared to previous settlements, represented only a few days of BP’s profits in Alaska and not a sufficient deterrent to prevent future environmental damage.

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