Gulf Coast AGs Seek Spill ‘Clarifications’

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Attorney General Jim Hood and the four attorneys general from the other Gulf Coast states have requested clarification from the parties involved in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

May 6, 2010

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and the attorneys general from four other states affected (or potentially affected) by oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico are looking for clarification of responsibility from all involved parties. Yesterday, the group of five state "top cops" sent letters to three British Petroleum executives and to the general counsels at Transocean, Halliburton Energy, and Cameron International, corporations directly associated to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded and sank April 20 killing 11 workers.

The former oil drilling site continues to jet 210,000 gallons of crude into the Gulf daily, threatening the delicate ecosystem of the waters and shores of five states—Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas—and the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the Gulf's fishing and tourism industries. The attorneys general have requested that each of the companies detail its financial commitment to the current situation, and its plans to prevent future environmental, ecological and economic damage.

" At a time when local communities are struggling with budget shortfalls, coastal towns and cities cannot afford to fund the necessary mitigation and clean-up efforts. The same is true for each of our states. Yet without the necessary financial resources it will be impossible to both protect and restore the Gulf. As a result, we are focused on working—hopefully cooperatively—with BP and others to ensure that our state and local governments, as well as our citizens and communities, have access to the financial resources necessary to prevent further environmental degradation, mitigate future ecological damage, and fully restore the Gulf to its natural state, as well as to compensate for any economic losses suffered on an individual, corporate, and governmental level," the attorneys general wrote in the letters.

Hood is also hosting a meeting with BP United States General Council and his four fellow Gulf state attorneys general today.

"I want to make sure that I have a clear understanding with BP about how we are paid for all costs incurred by the State, local municipalities and governments and our citizens," Hood said in a statement. "I have already contacted the affected state agencies, municipalities and counties and requested that they advise us of any questions they may have, so we can get them some answers."

AGs letter to BP
AGs letter to Halliburton and Cameron
AGs letter to Transocean

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