Complex plan to divide BP oil spill fines

A distribution formula that takes coastal populations into effect could put a damper on the gulf oil-spill compensation Louisiana receives, documents indicate.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune said Sunday that while Louisiana will still receive the largest cut of the fines levied in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Florida could siphon off some of the total because it has more people living along the Gulf Coast.

The newspaper said the complex distribution formula is contained in the compromise Restore Act passed by Congress last week. The bill, which was signed by President Obama, directs that Louisiana, Florida and three other gulf states received 80 percent of an estimated $5 billion-$21 billion in fines levied on British Petroleum for Clean Water Act violations.

The funds will be used for state projects such as tourism promotion, parks improvements, flood control and wildlife habitat.