BP Disaster: Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
Apparently oil and methane are now leaking from the ocean floor some distance away from the new well cap. The Sun Herald gives today's lesson on how to bury a lede:BP, feds clash over reopening capped Gulf oil well
"BP and the Obama administration offered significantly differing views Sunday on whether the capped Gulf of Mexico oil well will have to be reopened, a contradiction that may be an effort by the oil giant to avoid blame if crude starts spewing again."
Buried lede 4 paragraphs down:
"An administration official familiar with the spill oversight, however, told The Associated Press that a seep and possible methane were found near the busted oil well. The official spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because an announcement about the next steps had not been made yet. The concern all along - since pressure readings on the cap weren't as high as expected - was a leak elsewhere in the wellbore, meaning the cap may have to be reopened to prevent the environmental disaster from becoming even worse and harder to fix."
Times-Picayune does better: Associated Press says oil may be seeping from BP well
"A federal official said Sunday that scientists are concerned about a seep and possible methane seen near BP's busted oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. Both could be signs there are leaks in the well that's been capped off for three days. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because an announcement about the next steps had not yet been made."
CS Monitor: Gulf oil spill: Fouling air as well as water?
Um, that has to be a question rather than a statement?
"The EPA says some communities in Louisiana face a 'moderate health risk' due to hydrocarbon fumes from the Gulf oil spill. Researchers will report air quality findings this week."
Two background pieces:
Picayune: Louisiana has always welcomed offshore oil industry, despite dangers
Washington Post puts things a bit more bluntly: Oil spills. Poverty. Corruption. Why Louisiana is America's petro-state.
"BP and the Obama administration offered significantly differing views Sunday on whether the capped Gulf of Mexico oil well will have to be reopened, a contradiction that may be an effort by the oil giant to avoid blame if crude starts spewing again."
Buried lede 4 paragraphs down:
"An administration official familiar with the spill oversight, however, told The Associated Press that a seep and possible methane were found near the busted oil well. The official spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because an announcement about the next steps had not been made yet. The concern all along - since pressure readings on the cap weren't as high as expected - was a leak elsewhere in the wellbore, meaning the cap may have to be reopened to prevent the environmental disaster from becoming even worse and harder to fix."
Times-Picayune does better: Associated Press says oil may be seeping from BP well
"A federal official said Sunday that scientists are concerned about a seep and possible methane seen near BP's busted oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. Both could be signs there are leaks in the well that's been capped off for three days. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because an announcement about the next steps had not yet been made."
CS Monitor: Gulf oil spill: Fouling air as well as water?
Um, that has to be a question rather than a statement?
"The EPA says some communities in Louisiana face a 'moderate health risk' due to hydrocarbon fumes from the Gulf oil spill. Researchers will report air quality findings this week."
Two background pieces:
Picayune: Louisiana has always welcomed offshore oil industry, despite dangers
Washington Post puts things a bit more bluntly: Oil spills. Poverty. Corruption. Why Louisiana is America's petro-state.