By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-983170.mp3
New Orleans, LA – Claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg says one-quarter of the $20 billion-dollar damage fund established by the White House has been spent. He says some people opting for interim payments, which don't require waiving a right to sue BP, are now asked to show their businesses have improved by 5 percent since last year's spill.
"How much of that damage is attributable to the spill, the lingering effects of the spill, and how much is due to the recession, or the downturn in the economy?"
Feinberg says most of the money paid so far has gone to Florida to make up for tourism damage. Louisiana is second, with damage to commercial fishing. He says regional claims offices will be reduced from 35 to 15 after Labor Day.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.