In a constant effort to prepare for and respond to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Attorney General Bill McCollum is working closely with Attorneys General of other coastal states, state agencies, business leaders and legislators to guarantee Florida is represented and cared for. Attorney General McCollum, along with other Gulf State Attorneys General, has requested that BP, Transocean, Halliburton and Cameron memorialize their commitment to fund the protection and clean-up of our coastline and provide compensation for any economic losses suffered on an individual, corporate, and governmental level. The letters also request the companies help facilitate the flow of accurate information between the Attorneys General and the companies by assigning a point of contact; and preserve all documents, data, and tangible objects relevant to the disaster and its consequences until further notice.

The Attorneys General have also asked the President and U.S. Attorney General Holder to ensure the various federal agencies responsible for enforcement and litigation activities would work with the state agencies involved toward a common goal and avoid any unnecessary duplication of efforts. The coordination would maximize the states’ available resources while ensuring that the states and their citizens can be made whole.

This week I had the opportunity to meet with Attorneys General for the Gulf States to discuss and prepare for the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This has been a tragic event, and our environment and several local economies still hang in the balance. I remain committed to ensuring British Petroleum and any other responsible parties do everything necessary to make Florida whole.