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US slaps BP with new $51m spill bill

Washington - The White House on Monday slapped BP with a new $51m bill, the third sent to the British energy giant and its partners for government expenses incurred in efforts to halt the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Officials have stressed that they would keep billing the British energy giant for all associated costs from America's biggest-ever environmental disaster, under a US law requiring oil firms to pay for clean-ups.

"As a responsible party, BP is financially responsible for all costs associated with the response to the spill," the administration said.

That includes "efforts to stop the leak at its source, reduce the spread of oil, protect the shoreline and mitigate damages, as well as long-term recovery efforts to ensure that all individuals and communities impacted by the spill are made whole."

Two earlier bills to BP and other responsible parties this month amounting to $70.89m were paid in full, it said in a statement.

The invoice charges the firms for "specific federal government expenses". These include response costs for more than 24 federal entities and agencies from three US states, as well as payment for the trust fund set up by BP and the government to reimburse local individuals and businesses affected by the massive spill.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted after the Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, made oil giants liable for clean-up costs resulting from spills and is being used by the administration to hold BP's feet to the fire.

Obama has also vowed to hold BP responsible if it is found that the company broke any laws before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April.

BP said Monday it has so far spent $2bn on the spill, including ongoing efforts at containment, relief well drilling, grants to Gulf states, claims paid to thousands of affected individuals and businesses, and costs incurred by the US government.

 - AFP

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