What is the current status of efforts to stop the leak?
BP is currently drilling two relief wells intended to stop the leak. In the interim, BP is capturing approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day, developing additional containment capacity and bringing additional vessels to the region, using dispersants, and conducting in-situ burns. The leak likely will not be stopped for good until relief wells are complete in August 2010. How does the Oil Pollution Act work? Answer: The Oil Pollution Act makes the owners or operators of vessels and facilities that discharge oil into the environment responsible for repaying economic damages that result from the spill. The law also limits responsible parties’ liability in certain situations, and allows claims over and above that liability to be paid from an oil industry-financed trust fund, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF). Oil industry financing of the OSLTF maintains the law’s “polluter pays” principles. The balance in the Fund now stands at more than $1.5 billion. The Coast Guard is the f
