Alabama School System Sues BP Over Revenue Lost Due to Oil Spill

An Alabama school system on the Gulf Coast says it’s filing a claim seeking compensation for lost revenues blamed on the BP oil spill in 2009.

WKRG-TV reported that attorneys for the Baldwin County public schools said they plan to file the claim next week. School superintendent Alan Lee won’t divulge how much money the school system wants from BP, but he said it’s a seven-figure amount.

The Baldwin County revenue department said the local schools received $48.7 million in funding from property taxes before the 2009 oil spill, but those revenues dropped sharply through 2012. County officials blame the spill.

It’s not the first time Baldwin County schools have sought a check from BP. They received nearly $2 million in compensation for losses in 2011.