Gulf Resident, Thomas Clements, Founder of CNC Machining, Faces Losing Business Because BP Won't Keep Its Promise

As holidays approach, small business owner faces unfortunate reality as BP continues to refuse his claims

BROUSSARD, La., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just days before Christmas, Louisiana small business owner Thomas Clements expressed his frustration after receiving his second denial of claims from the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) located in Dublin, Ohio. Mr. Clements owns a machine shop that built and repaired parts of oil rigs, but since the BP spill and resultant government exploration moratorium, his business has been cut in half.

"BP spent nearly $100 million on TV and radio telling everyone that they'd 'make it right', but as we close in on the holidays they continue to reject my claims," Thomas Clements said. "Because of the BP spill my business had orders cancelled and payments stopped. My wife and I built this business – now BP and the federal government are destroying it."

Mr. Clements has provided documentation to the proper authorities proving a net business loss of about $400,000 directly attributed to the BP spill. However, in a letter signed "Administrator" the GCCF asserts that Mr. Clements job or business is not "dependent upon injured natural resources."

"Why is someone in Ohio making a life-or-death decision for those of us in the Gulf Coast," Mr. Clements asked. "If it wasn't for the BP spill and the government's moratorium, my machine shop would be humming this holiday season building new equipment for drilling rigs in the Gulf. Instead, BP and the feds are playing the role of the Grinch who is stealing our Christmas – and we're preparing to shut our doors."

The moratorium resulting from the BP oil spill in the Gulf destroyed 20,000 jobs through September alone. And as the permitting freeze from Washington, D.C. continues, regulators are eliminating thousands more. Additionally, the administration flip-flopped on a policy which would open areas in the eastern Gulf and Atlantic coast following the incident in the Gulf, ensuring that thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity will not be realized. For people like Thomas Clements, BP's failure to take responsibility for their actions in the Gulf foreshadows an unhappy New Year.

SOURCE Thomas Clements, Founder of CNC Machining

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