Louisiana Local Governments Act to Share Millions in BP Settlement

Local governments in Louisiana have begun accepting settlements for their share of a proposed $18.7 billion settlement between BP, Louisiana, four other states and the federal government to mitigate claims stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The Gretna City Council voted to accept a $3.29 million settlement and the Lafourche Parish Council unanimously approved an $8.1 million settlement.

Louisiana’s total share of the settlement amount could reach $6.8 billion.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier set a July 15 deadline for governments to approve the proposed settlements.

The Deepwater Horizon explosion killed 11 oil rig workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.