The federal government announced the details of a
record $20-billion civil settlement with BP over the
2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in
the Gulf of Mexico.
The civil settlement will be available for public comment for 60 days before being presented to a federal judge for final approval.
$5.9 billion will be paid directly to state and local governments in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to reimburse them for economic losses. The federal government and
state agencies will spend $4.7 billion to restore
wetlands and coastal habitats, with the lion’s
share, $4.3 billion, going to restoration in Louisiana. Alabama will get $96 million,
Florida $38 million,