Moratorium losses cant tap BP fund Baton Rouge, LA
WASHINGTON — The official chosen to pay out $20 billion in compensation claims to oil spill victims said Wednesday that he will not pay any of the money to rig workers and related companies affected by a drilling moratorium unless the White House and BP resolve the matter.
Ken Feinberg told the U.S. House Small Business Committee that he hopes to have a resolution within a few days over whether rig workers and related service industries can tap into the $20 billion fund.
Feinberg told the committee that he is not in charge of a separate $100 million fund, which is set up specifically to help rig workers and related companies.
During a break, Feinberg told reporters that he would not pay any of the moratorium-related claims out of the $20 billion that he administers. He said he would direct the requests back to whoever takes over the $100 million fund.
“It remains to be seen,” Feinberg said. “That is not on my watch.”
“I’m trying to figure out myself how the $100 million for workers will be designed,” Feinberg said.
The White House repeated its stance Wednesday that rig workers and related companies could make claims to both the $100 million fund and the $20 billion fund. The caveat, however, is that claims would have to meet applicable laws.
Last week, BP said that the workers should apply only to the $100 million fund and that the company would not pay rig claims through the $20 billion