BP oil fund chief 'totally independent'

WASHINGTON, July 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. administrator of the $20 billion fund for victims of the massive gulf oil spill said Sunday he answers to neither BP nor the Obama administration.

"I work for the people of the gulf region. That's who I work for. I am totally independent," Kenneth Feinberg said on "Fox News Sunday."

He said his position was created by a private agreement between the administration and BP to "design, implement and administer a totally independent" system.

Feinberg, a Washington lawyer who administered claims from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and set executive pay as special master under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, said the $20 billion escrow fund is being set up.

BP has paid victims about $130 million but that is not part of the $20 billion escrow fund, he said.

Claims would be weighed in light of state and federal laws, Feinberg said, adding the presence of oil alone would not be the only requirement for compensation.

"There are going to have to be some tough decisions made as to who is eligible and who is not eligible," Feinberg said. "I will look at the claims. I'll look at the underlying facts of those claims. I'm working for the people in the gulf. I want to try and maximize as much compensation as I can do fairly and consistently to the people I'm trying to serve down there."

The U.S. government estimates as much as 60,000 barrels, or 2.5 million gallons, a day, is gushing from the well a mile beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.