BP announces 2nd round of payments to Gulf fishermen, businesses with oil spill losses

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BP plans more payments for oil-related losses

NEW ORLEANS — BP says it’s preparing to send a second round of payments to Gulf Coast residents and businesses facing a loss of income or profit because of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The announcement came as President Barack Obama visited Louisiana on Friday for the third time since the spill. In New Orleans, Obama criticized BP for spending money on advertising and paying shareholder dividends during the crisis.

BP estimates that once the payments are made, it will have spent about $84 million for loss of income or net profit through June to people in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.