Slow BP compensation angers Alabamians

GULF SHORES, Ala., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Six months after oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster hit the beaches of Alabama, many say BP's promised compensation has not come.

Business owners told the Houston Chronicle they have gotten only partial payments, if any, and little communication from the oil company.

Of the four affected states, Alabama seems the most aggrieved.

Kenneth Feinberg, who is managing the $20 billion compensation fund established by BP, says Alabama has gotten a fair deal, citing nearly 25,000 paid claims totaling some $500 million. About 15,000 of the paid Alabama claims are from businesses. He also said more checks are going out and the situation is improving.

"I'm being as flexible as possible and paying generously, giving them much more leeway than any business would ever get in a courtroom," Feinberg said.

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., complained recently the claims system "arbitrarily awards payments to a lucky few businesses while slamming the door in the face of many others who have submitted nearly identical paperwork."

Bert Sanders, a Gulf Shores accountant handling business claims, said some clients have been fully paid, others partially and others denied -- without explanation.