BP says it has already paid out $368 million in claims so far.
Oil cleanup workers hired by BP clean oily deposits from the shore in Orange Beach, Ala., on Saturday. Shortages of government-required protective gear and cleaning equipment are slowing work to remove the sticky mess and keep beaches along the coast safe and oil-free.Wednesday will be the last day that BP will accept claims from people and businesses affected by the Gulf oil spill.
After Wednesday, BP will send those who claim they are affected by the spill to Gulf Coast Claims Facility, which is led by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, according to CNN.
Feinberg will have the responsibility of using the $20 billion escrow account established by BP to take care of claims caused by the Gulf disaster.
BP says it has already paid out $368 million in claims so far and will continue to handle claims by the government past the Wednesday deadline.
The Gulf oil spill began on April 20 after an explosion on an offshore drilling platform killed 11 workers. The platform sank two days later and began gushing oil into the Gulf before it was finally capped on July 15.
»CNN: BP to stop handling most Gulf claims
»al.com: Oil claims czar plans to answer claims questions in Saturday tour
»Businessweek: BP Spill Claims From 50 States Confront Administrator Feinberg
»Pensacola News Journal: Claims soon will be in Feinbergs's court