County Commission Hopeful About BP Settlement

Posted on: Jul 2nd, 2015 | News and Announcements

An $18.7 billion settlement for the catastrophic BP oil spill of 2010 will provide up to $2.3 billion for the State of Alabama for economic and natural resource recovery, a significant step in helping to repair the damage to local communities, according to Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson. ?This gives us greater opportunity to provide resources to our impacted citizens and industries here,? she said. ?Our fishing and seafood industries were devastated by the spill, but all of us suffered the consequences of economic harm and the deterioration of our natural resources.? Since the spill, Mobile County has continually worked on projects to restore and revitalize its shorelines and natural water resources. But the settlement will likely give a boost to these efforts. ?This is an incredible opportunity that comes around once in a lifetime for Mobile County,? said Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl. ?Our responsibility is to invest this money wisely in our infrastructure knowing our decisions will have a long-lasting effect on generations to come.? ? Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said the details of the settlement money allocations will be critical. ?I?m glad it?s being resolved,? she said, ?and it is up to all of us to make the most of these dollars as they are invested in our communities.? According to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, economic damage payments will be $1 billion paid over 18 years. The environmental damages will be $1.3 payable over 15 years. The Mobile County Commission also has a pending civil claim for damages against BP that has not yet been settled.