Documentation trouble for spill claims

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) - The administrator of the new claims process for victims of the Gulf oil spill says most of the individual claims reviewed in the first week lacked the minimal documentation to be paid.

Ken Feinberg, who took over the claims process from BP on Aug. 23, said 18,900 individual claims were submitted in the first week and all were reviewed. He says payments were authorized to 1,200 individuals totaling about $6 million in emergency compensation.

Feinberg discussed the process Sunday at the Southern Governors' Association convention in Hoover. He said payments have already been processed for some and the rest will be done Monday. He said those who lacked the necessary documentation will be notified and told what type of material they might submit for payment.