As we enter day 35 of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, frustration is growing for Louisiana residents and people around the country are angry that it appears nothing is being done to protect the coastline from the oil spill. The governor of Louisiana is slow to get government approval for the projects they need to complete and, over the weekend, he announced that they are forging ahead without it. President Obama also showed his frustration over the weekend with the lack of effort in cleaning up the oil spill.
The government has shown its disapproval for BP’s slow response and are considering taking over the clean-up of the oil along the Louisiana coastline even though technically there is a law in place that prevents them from doing that. In 1989, Congress passed a law after the Exxon Valdez spill that oil companies be held responsible for dealing with and paying for major oil spills, and the government would oversee the operation.
"It's difficult to clean up when you haven't stopped the source," said Chris Roberts, a councilman for Jefferson Parish. "You can scrape it off the beach but it's coming right back."
"If anybody is frustrated with this response, I would tell them their symptoms are normal, because I'm frustrated, too," said Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen. "Nobody likes to have a feeling that you can't do something about a very big problem."
Saturday, President Obama announced the formation of a bipartisan commission on the oil spill who will determine the causes of the oil spill and give options of what will keep this from happening again. Former Florida Senator Bob Graham and the former EPA Chief William K. Reilly will head the commission. For more on this story, click here.
Tomorrow BP is expected to begin what they are calling 'top kill.' The project includes pumping a thick liquid into the oil leak and then applying cement that they hope will stop the oil leak. BP had hoped to begin the “top kill” project this weekend, but the project has never been conducted underwater, so planning has delayed it until Tuesday.
Scroll down to see the incredible photos taken over the weekend of the oil spill reaching the Louisiana coastline and how it has affected wild life.
Thursday, BP approved 6 machines from Kevin Costner that they will test that recycle water. For more on that story, click here.
Earlier this week, a new video of the gushing oil had many of the investigative teams calling BP untrustworthy because more oil was leaking from the well then they originally claimed. For more on that story, click here.
The video below shows the frustration of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and he states that BP has missed deadline after deadline.
Saturday morning an Air India flight crashed and 158 people are feared dead, and 7 have survived. To see photos of the crash, click here.
Salt Lake City residents and people from around the country are volunteering to help with clean-up along the Louisiana coastline. Volunteers can help with wildlife clean-up, or help clean the barrier islands or beaches. For more information on how you can help, click here.
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Sources: Associated Press and ABC News
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Comments
Bp has really dropped the ball. Have we not learned from Exxon. Maybe after all the wild life is gone and the ecosystem is completly destryoed and statrs to affect the human race. Then we will take things more seriously. I hate OIL!
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most diverse bodies of water boarding U.S. shores, from wildlife to some of the nicest beaches on the planet. Not only do we have oil by the millions of gallons in the gulf, now we have toxic chemicals by the millions. The EPA should be sent home and America needs to vote with their pocket book concerning BP.
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