SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Key administration officials met with BP executives Monday to discuss a wide range of issues related to the ongoing oil spill cleanup and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast.

Specifically, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was joined by Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner, White House Counsel Robert Bauer, and National Incident Commander Adm. Thad Allen in meetings with Bob Dudley, CEO of BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization, and Lamar McKay, chairman and president of BP America, at the White House.

Among the topics discussed was the need for BP to move quickly to pay state and local government claims. The troupe also reiterated President Barack Obama’s commitment to work with Gulf Coast residents to hold BP accountable, while addressing economic, health and environmental needs as well as restoration of the region’s natural “beauty and bounty.”

Alabama’s voice has not been lost in the national shuffle, however.

Citing a “long way to go,” Gov. Bob Riley traveled to Washington, D.C. one week ago to keep Alabama’s plight at the forefront as recovery efforts from the oil spill unfold.

“Just because the oil has stopped leaking into the Gulf doesn’t mean this disaster is over. There is a long way to go and we all need to remain focused on where we go from here,” Riley said, adding, “I want to make sure our federal partners understand Alabama’s perspective as we move forward.”

While in the nation’s capital, Riley met with Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs; Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, whom President Barack Obama tapped to oversee federal long-term recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast; and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Each official is expected to advise Obama on the region’s recovery.

Eastern Shore Update

The state Department of Examiners of Public Accounts will audit the funding from BP PLC to the state of Alabama, Ken Eslava, Fairhope's assistant public works director and oil spill coordinator, announced at Monday's City Council meeting.

Eslava read excerpts of an e-mail from Bryan Prescott, general counsel for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

“The Examiners Office stated that any unused funds held by the local governments should be returned to the state,” Prescott’s Aug. 9 e-mail to Eslava and Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant stated. “All grant funds delivered to the local governments must be utilized in accordance with the project applications submitted and approved by (the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.) If any grant funds have not been spent according to the project applications, those funds should be returned to AEMA.”

The grant agreement between the state and local governments required that grantees had to send a report of disbursements of funds on an annual basis until all funds had been spent, Prescott’s e-mail noted.

“We interpret (that) to mean that the grantee will send a report of disbursements to AEMA at the end of each fiscal year,” Prescott stated.

The city of Fairhope has spent “just about all” of the first state grant of $650,000, Eslava said, with the second grant of $500,000 being held in reserve to be used for other oil spill recovery expenses.

Eslava also reported that all containment boom in the Fairhope area had been removed, and that the Pier Street boat ramp was reopened to the public Monday, with no further restrictions on daily operating hours. The oil spill operations post previously located there—including its trailer, tent and generators—is in the process of being removed and restoration of the area will be completed this week, he said.

As of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials with neither the city of Daphne nor Spanish Fort reported any substantial changes to their oil spill response plans.

Staff Writer Mike Odom contributed to this report.