BP to switch from cleanup to restoration

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- BP will end active cleanup operations in the Deepwater Horizon gulf oil spill and turn its efforts to restoring areas damaged in the spill, U.S. officials said.

Under a plan approved by the U.S. Coast Guard that "provides the mechanisms for ceasing active cleanup operations," BP would instead focus on restoration of beaches and marshes, for which it has put aside $1 billion, Britain's The Guardian reported Wednesday.

Under the plan, the biggest effort would be reserved for the most popular, heavily visited beaches that were affected by the spill, while more oil would be tolerated on remote beaches.

BP will be responsible for cleaning up thick oil in coastal marshes unless it is decided it would be best to leave that to nature, officials said.