WASHINGTON -- Representative Edward Markey, who led the congressional investigation into the 2010 Gulf oil spill, hailed Thursday’s record $4.5 billion fine against BP, saying it could be just the first installment in what could be billions of dollars more in penalties levied against the oil giant.

The offshore explosion at the Macondo well killed 11 workers and unleashed millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and causing widespread environmental and economic damage across the country’s southern shorelines.