WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined with 53 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to BP calling on the company to set up a $20-billion account, administered by an independent trustee, to pay for cleanup and economic damages from the BP Gulf oil spill.

"This was a BP-made disaster. This spill is threatening the U.S. economy, the environment, and the pocketbooks of thousands of fishermen, property owners, and businesspeople. It is going to take years to recover and BP must be held accountable now and in the future. They need to put a down payment on the cleanup and recovery, and this $20 billion escrow account would be a good start," sated Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment.

In the letter to BP's CEO, Tony Hayward, the majority of the U.S. Senate wrote: "The damages caused by your company are far reaching," adding: "history has taught us that corporations often fail to live up to their initial promises."

The letter continues: "Although legislative action is forthcoming, the damages are immediate. In order to ensure BP fully and quickly covers the costs of this disaster, we are calling on BP to immediately establish a special account of $20 billion, administered by an independent trustee, to be used for payment of economic damages and clean-up costs. Establishment of this account would serve as an act of good faith and as a first step towards ensuring that there will be no delay in payments or attempt to evade responsibility for damages."

The Senators asked BP for a response by Friday, a day after Mr. Hayward is scheduled to make his first appearance before a Congressional hearing.

The text of the letter is below:

June 14, 2010

Mr. Tony Hayward
Group Chief Executive, BP p.l.c
c/o BP America Inc.
4101 Winfield Road
Warrenville, IL 60555

Dear Mr. Hayward:

We are writing to express our profound concern over the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and our deep regret for the severe consequences the continued outflow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico is having on our nation and the way of life for millions of Americans. This tragedy has already taken the lives of 11 men, injured 17 others, and caused billions of dollars in damages. The oil slick resulting from the spill stretches across 2,500 square miles and has damaged miles of environmentally sensitive beaches and marshes stretching across four states. Although this disaster continues to unfold, it is already very clear we are facing a catastrophe of historic proportions that will take decades to fully rectify.

The damages caused by your company are far reaching. While much is already visible today, history informs us that the full extent of the destruction may not be discovered for months or even years. For example, it is already evident that fishermen, shrimpers, the tourist industry, and the secondary industries that support them will sustain billions of dollars in losses. It is also possible that marine and wildlife habitats will be destroyed, estuaries and wetlands will be decimated, and bird, fish, and animal populations will be devastated.

While we are pleased that BP has admitted liability for such damages and vowed to provide full remuneration for economic losses and clean-up costs, history has taught us that corporations often fail to live up to their initial promises. After the Exxon Valdez tanker spilled more than 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, damages totaled more than $7 billion; although Exxon continued making massive profits after the accident, it fought liability at every step and ultimately paid far less than the billions of dollars worth of damages it had caused many, many years later.

Congress is currently gathering information and holding hearings in order to develop evidence-based legislative solutions to address the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Although legislative action is forthcoming, the damages are immediate. In order to ensure BP fully and quickly covers the costs of this disaster, we are calling on BP to immediately establish a special account of $20 billion, administered by an independent trustee, to be used for payment of economic damages and clean-up costs. Establishment of this account would serve as an act of good faith and as a first step towards ensuring that there will be no delay in payments or attempt to evade responsibility for damages. Although creating this account at this level in no way limits BP's liability, we believe it will do more to improve BP's public image than the costly public relations campaign your company has launched.

We appreciate your interest in fully and quickly reimbursing those who have been injured by your actions. We believe the establishment of the $20 billion account to compensate victims and provide for clean-up is a useful first step for demonstrating that BP intends to meet its commitments. In light of the urgency of this matter we ask the courtesy of your response no later than June 18, 2010.

Sincerely,