Local leaders appeal to Washington on BP settlement

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Mayor Sam Jones joined a list of local leaders who are worried about a possible settlement with British Petroleum stemming from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. 

News of the possible settlement between the United States Department of Justice and BP is not sitting well with Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. 

Jones sent two letters in reaction to reports that the Justice Department is considering a settlement that would shift money from the RESTORE Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in July.

In his letter, Jones wrote, "A diversion of money would represent an unfair boon to the large oil company responsible for all this damage" by providing an "undeserved" tax break to BP.

That act would require 80 percent of any BP penalties to be distributed to the Gulf Coast states, and specifically the regions most affected by the Deep Water Horizon oil spill.

One of the two letters was addressed to President Obama; a duplicate was sent to US Attorney General Eric Holder.

Like others who have expressed concern over a possible global settlement with BP, Jones said in his letter that such an agreement, which is rumored to divert money from the Gulf Coast, "would undermine many months of hard work by those in the affected" areas.

The letter wraps up with a plea that local governments not be left out of the process, and that BP not be allowed to escape paying its fair share of taxes. 

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley issued a statement this week that his office will oppose any effort by the federal government to attempt to reduce the amount of money that flows through the RESTORE Act to the Gulf Coast.

Read Mayor Sam Jones' full letter to Washington officials here.