Obama rips BP: On his third personal trek to the gulf disaster, President Barack Obama said he sees some progress in fighting the enormous oil spill but it is “way too early to be optimistic” about BP’s latest control effort. He also criticized the British oil giant for spending money on advertising and paying dividends to shareholders in the midst of the crisis.
Two huge deepwater plumes: Scientists with the University of South Florida say lab tests have confirmed that oil has accumulated in at least two extensive plumes deep underwater. The researchers said in Baton Rouge that tests confirmed their initial findings that were based on field instruments. BP PLC has said more research is needed. The researchers say the extensive layers of oil are sitting far beneath the surface, miles from the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Tar balls beached in Florida: Gooey blobs of oil tar are washing ashore on the white-sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle. County emergency officials reported that spotters who had been seeing a few tar balls in recent days found a substantially larger number.
Island’s birds mired: The damage to the environment was chilling on East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast, where workers found birds coated in thick, black goo. Authorities said 60 birds, including 41 pelicans, were being rescued. That more than doubled the number of birds at the rescue center next to Fort Jackson.
Experts back dispersants: A federal panel of about 50 experts is recommending the continued use of chemical dispersants to break up the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico, despite its harm to plankton, larvae and fish.
Victims’ kin to visit White House: The families of the 11 workers killed when the oil rig exploded will visit the White House on Thursday. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama had written to the families to invite them so he can pay personal condolences.
