More than two years after the catastrophic BP oil spill, environmental groups say billions of dollars BP is expected to spend on restoration should go toward buying tens of thousands of acres of coastal land for conservation, rebuilding Louisiana's eroding wetlands and creating nearly 200 miles of oyster reefs.
Under the Oil Pollution Act, companies must pay to restore areas fouled by a spill. The amount BP will have to pay is subject to ongoing litigation with the government. Regardless, the company is expected to pay billions for the more than 200 million gallons of oil spilled after the Deepwater Horizon exploded in 2010.
In a report released Wednesday, the environmental groups laid out 39 priority proposals for spending the money, including spending $500 million restoring Louisiana's coast.