The explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oilrig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010 has caused massive devastation to our environment and disrupted the financial lives of millions of people throughout the Gulf Coast. If you have suffered property damage or loss of income as a result of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, you may be entitled to compensation.

Recovery Under The Oil Pollution Act (OPA)

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 provides for compensation to those whose property is damaged in an oil spill. In response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, Congress amended the Clean Water Act and allowed for compensation from damage by vessel- and facility-caused oil pollution to U.S. navigable waters. Types of claims allowed under the OPA include: natural resource damages (natural resource trustees), removal costs (oil spill recovery organizations, government entities, spill responsible party, others who assisted with cleanup), property damage (anyone who owns or leases property damaged in a spill), boat damage (anyone who owns or leases boats damaged in a spill), loss of profits and earning capacity (anyone will spill-related loss of profits or income) and loss of subsistence use of natural resources (anyone who relies on natural resources affected by the spill). OPA claims are submitted to the National Pollution Funds Center, a Coast Guard office that evaluates claims and must be accompanied by proof of damages and costs, proof of submission of claim to owner of vessel or facility, and other proof and documentation. Additionally, other remedies may exist under various state and other federal laws depending on the circumstances of your situation.

Who Has A Claim

The following are examples of industries whose members may be entitled to recover as the result of the spill:

• Charter boat industry
• Commercial fishing industry
• Oyster and seafood processing companies
• Suppliers of goods and services to the fishing industry
• Local restaurants, hotels, bars and recreational tour operators that are indirectly affected as tourism decreases

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