Q: Recently, I saw a commercial on TV that said BP had given over $23 billion to the Gulf cleanup effort and businesses impacted by the spill. The way I remember, businesses had a tough time getting their first check. How much money did businesses receive from BP?
—William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: BP is still compensating businesses, individuals and government entities for losses and damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. BP had reportedly spent more than $22 billion by March — $8.1 billion in compensation and $14 billion on its operational response, according to Bloomberg. BP reached an agreement later that month to pay an additional $7.8 billion to businesses and individuals, money that will come from a $20 billion trust set up to compensate spill victims. Of that, $2.3 billion was "earmarked for economic losses related to the seafood industry in the Gulf of Mexico," BP said. In April, the U.S. Justice Department said about 7,300 individuals and businesses would receive another $64 million because their initial claims were shortchanged or wrongfully denied, The Associated Press reported. An independent audit of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility found "significant errors" in its claims process that led to applicants receiving less than what they were entitled to under GCCF procedures, the federal agency said. The GCCF, which has been replaced by the Deepwater Horizon Claims Center, received about 1.1 million claims from all 50 states and 35 countries.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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