TotalFina's Spill Costs Rise

The oil spill from the Erika Tanker, chartered by TotalFina, has reportedly so far cost the company more than $123 million. The company announced Jan. 21 that it will pay $31 million to store and treat polluted sand on top of almost $78 million already earmarked for the spill. TotalFina has also contributed about $19 million to the oil industry compensation fund Fipol. TotalFina's contribution to the fund represents 10 percent of the $186 million Fipol will spend on repairing damage caused by the slick and compensating the local tourism and fishing industries.