BP (NYSE:BP) Has Already Paid Alabama $240 Million

While BP (NYSE:BP) does not normally comment on individual legal claims against them. The company wanted to make sure that the public knows how much money they have already paid out to Alabama for oil spill recovery costs.

The company says they have already paid out $240 million to mitigate the impact in Alabama. The amount does not include costs directly related to the spill, such as the Unified command response, skimmers, boom, and removal operations.

BP spokeswoman, Dawn Patience stated that the amount does include $87 million that was paid to out of work fisherman to serve in spill response rolls. Another $81 million has went towards claims already paid out. While $50 million went to the state and $22 million to tourist grants.

Patience said that the company recently sent out almost $8,000 letters to people who had filed claims with the company but remained outstanding, most had no documentation. The recipients of the letters were invited to workshops held last week, only about 300 people attended.

BP (NYSE:BP) Spill Containment As Oil Rages Towards Shorelines

As BP's (NYSE:BP) oil spill containment efforts continue on, the already spilled oil continues its course into the ocean and towards the shorelines. The latest predictions are saying the oil could hit near the Mississippi Sound as well as the coastline near the mouth of Mobil Bay.

"We are working around the clock to keep the oil off the shoreline and have had the gift of time to plan for its arrival," said Capt. Steven Poulin, incident commander for the Coast Guard. "The projections are of concern. This is a dynamic situation influenced by a wide variety of environmental factors, so while we're not certain where or what the impact will be, but we're prepared."

The Unified Incident Command in Mobil said it has aggressively increased air and sea surveillance. In place are additional beach support teams on shore as well. There are also over 6,000 people taking part in the response effort on the shorelines and in open water in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.

As oil cleanup efforts are being highly increased, BP said earlier today that it has already spent $990 million on cleaning and fighting the oil spill. This amount doesn't include the many lawsuits for damages.