BP receives $US69 million bill from US

The White House Thursday slapped BP with a 69-million-dollar bill and demanded prompt payment for the first installment of government expenses incurred in the effort to halt the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Officials also said they would keep billing the British energy giant for all associated costs from America's biggest-ever environmental disaster, under a US law requiring oil firms to pay for cleanups.

"The Obama administration today sent a preliminary bill for 69.09 million dollars to BP and other responsible parties for response and recovery operations relating to the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill," the government said in a statement.

"The administration will continue to bill BP regularly for all associated costs," the statement, issued by the oil spill incident center said.

"The administration expects prompt payment and will take additional steps as necessary to ensure that BP and other responsible parties, not American taxpayers, pay all of the costs associated with the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill."

The White House said BP was given until July 1 to pay the full 69 million dollars.

The total includes 29 million for federal agencies to support operation of ships, aircraft and boats, and for environmental monitoring and related costs; 29 million for National Guard expenditures; seven million for costs incurred by states for monitoring, oil removal and other expenses; and four million for Defense Department support.

Gibbs said the total accounts for 75 percent of the incurred costs to date.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted after the Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, made oil giants liable for cleanup costs resulting from spills and is being used by the administration to hold BP's feet to the fire.

Obama has also vowed to hold BP responsible if it is found that the company broke any laws before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April.