Efforts to dole out compensation to coastal residents hit by the Gulf of Mexico disaster can be stepped up now the flood of oil has been stemmed, fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg said Monday.
Feinberg, who manages BP's 20-billion-dollar compensation fund, said capping the well would allow compensation claims to move forward as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.
"Until the oil has stopped it is very hard to corral the claims, you don't know how many claims, whether the oil will reach a certain area," he told a forum in Washington.
"Now that the oil has apparently been stopped… it is a lot easier and quicker to get a handle on (this)."
He urged fishermen, oyster collectors and owners of hotels and other businesses to now come forward with claims, including emergency payments to cover the first six months of damages.
BP has made 20 billion dollars available to meet spill claims, although that amount may be topped up if needed.
"I hope that won't be necessary," said Feinberg, "I believe it will be sufficient."
The fund is designed to cover any current or future loss of earnings for locals and businesses.
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have all been badly hit by the spill, with fishing waters closed and tourist beaches rendered unusable.
Residents face a tough choice: whether to accept compensation from the fund or pursue legal action against BP or the other companies involved.
Feinberg, who oversaw the compensation process for the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, said people would fare better through the BP fund, which is expected to run for three years.
"I'll be much more generous than any court will be, and at the same time you won't need to pay lawyers' costs," he said.
Earlier this month BP said it had already paid out more than 200 million dollars in compensation to Gulf of Mexico residents affected by a months-long oil spill.
The firm said it had offered some 32,000 claimants one or more payments over the last 10 weeks as it tries to assuage anger and frustration over the environmental and economic disaster.
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