US to send $69 million bill for oil spill cleanup

The White House says that the US government will be sending BP a bill for $69 million Thursday for oil spill cleanup costs so far.

The White House says the U.S. government is sending BP a $69 million bill Thursday for costs so far in its response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs says the bill is the first to be sent to the oil company, which leased the oil rig that exploded on April 20 and later sank, sending millions of gallons (liters) of oil into the Gulf. Gibbs says he is not sure how long the company has to pay the bill.

The White House has said BP will ultimately be responsible for all costs associated with the spill.