A federal official said this afternoon that the leading edge of the Gulf oil slick could reach the Mississippi River delta sometime tonight, and an executive said BP has asked the Department of Defense for technical help.

In Washington, lawmakers raised the heat on the offshore energy industry, although the Obama administration stopped short today of backing off its commitment to expanded drilling.

The White House dispatched top officials from the Homeland Security Department, Environmental Protection Agency and Interior Department to the Gulf Coast, and President Barack Obama today called the five Gulf Coast state governors to emphasize the federal government's support and concern about the spill.

Read the whole article.

Filed under: * Economics, Politics • Economy • Corporations/Corporate Life • Energy, Natural Resources • Politics in General • State Government

1. NoVA Scout wrote: An enormous disaster.  Find a little time to pray for the families of those who died in the rig explosion,  the myriad creatures of all shapes and sizes who will die and suffer horribly because of our appetites for this fuel, and for the men and women whose livelihoods depend on the magnificent and fragile environment of the Gulf Coast. April 29, 10:01 pm | [comment link]

2. Pageantmaster [KJS to Coventry] wrote: Prayers for the Gulf Coast. April 30, 9:35 am | [comment link]

3. magnolia wrote: so much for the ‘drilling offshore is perfectly safe’ mantra. on the surface anyway, windfarms might be preferable. April 30, 11:44 am | [comment link]

Registered members must log in to comment.