The US Justice Department is suing BP and 8 other companies over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April. It's an effort to recover billions of dollars from the largest offshore spill in U.S.history.

The Obama administration's lawsuit, asks that the companies be held liable WITHOUT limitation under the Oil Pollution Act, for all removal costs and damages, caused by the oil spill. That includes damages to natural resources.

The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties under the Clean Water Act. The move follows, the Obama administration's decision, NOT to open new areas of the eastern Gulf and Atlantic seaboard, to drillers.