MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Alabama leaders have started discussing how the state should use an estimated $1 billion it will receive as a result of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The 10-member Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council discussed how it will operate during its first meeting Friday.
BP is expected to pay anywhere from $5 billion to $21 billion in penalties for the spill that sent oil flowing onto the state's shoreline. The Mobile Press-Register (http://bit.ly/Orv5nW ) reports that Alabama will likely get a minimum of $1 billion.
Gov. Robert Bentley asked members to meet again in about a month. He said the council would seek public input before making final decisions on how to spend the money. He urged communities not to hire lobbyists to seek funding for local projects.
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Information from: Press-Register, http://www.al.com/press-register/
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