Fox 8 fileNEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says a transportation bill that Congress is close to approving includes a provision to steer 80 percent of the fines BP PLC is expected to pay in water pollution penalties stemming from the Gulf oil spill to pay for restoration in five Gulf states.
The money is tied to a bill in the final stages of negotiations in Congress.
Landrieu said Wednesday the tentative agreement on the bill includes language directing 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to restoration of communities and the environment in Gulf states hard hit by the 2010 spill.
BP could be fined between $5.4 billion to $21.1 billion under the Clean Water Act, depending on whether the company is found grossly negligent.
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