The Daily Glob

"Top Democrat Criticizes U.S. Oil Spill Report"

"White House claims that the worst of the BP oil spill  was over were undermined [Thursday] when a senior government scientist said three-quarters of the oil was still in the Gulf environment and a research study detected a 22-mile plume of oil in the ocean depths.

Bill Lehr, a senior scientist at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) departed from an official report from two weeks ago which suggested the majority of the oil had been captured or broken down.

'I would say most of that is still in the environment,' Lehr, the lead author of the report, told the House Energy and Commerce Committee."

Suzanne Goldenberg reports for the UK Guardian August 19, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"Markey Says Report That Most Oil Is Gone Has Led To 'False Confidence'" (Froomkin/Huffington Post)

"Ummm, About That Disappearing Oil?" (Mother Jones)

"White House Slammed for Rosy Gulf View" (Politico)

"Academic Scientists Say Oil From Gulf Spill Is Not Going Away Quickly" (Washington Post)

"Top Democrat Criticizes U.S. Oil Spill Report" (Wall St. Journal)

"Scientists Say Gulf Oil To Linger, Administration's Estimates Rosy" (McClatchy/Miami Herald)

"Rep. Markey Challenges U.S. Claims About Gulf Spill" (NPR)

"Gulf Oil Spill: Most of the Oil Remains" (Greenspace/L.A. Times)

Spike Lee Explores the Gulf Coast's Crises in New Documentary

"Spike Lee's new HBO documentary starts on a high note: Super Bowl Sunday 2010, when the New Orleans Saints claim victory over the Indianapolis Colts. ... Then, only 17 minutes into 'If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise,' the BP oil spill enters the narrative.

Scientists Wary of US Report Saying Only 26% of Spilled Gulf Oil Left

"Some scientists are voicing doubts about the accuracy of an Aug. 4 intergovernmental agency report asserting that just 26 percent of the estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil released from BP's ruptured wellhead remains to be dealt with onshore and at sea." Aimee Miles reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune August 17, 2010.

"Scientists Raise Queries About Gulf Oil Left Behind"

"Two new scientific reports on Tuesday raised fresh fears about the environmental fallout from the world's worst offshore oil spill and questioned government assurances that most of the oil from the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico was already gone.

"Much Oil Remains in Gulf, Researchers Estimate"

"Researchers at the University of Georgia said Monday that more than three-quarters of the oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon drilling-rig explosion could still be in the Gulf threatening fisheries and marine life, disputing government statements that much of the oil had been safely dispersed.

"White House Tells BP To Honor Long-Term Gulf Recovery Plans"

"President Barack Obama's top advisers told BP executives at the White House on Monday they must honor commitments to clean up the Gulf of Mexico and fulfill long-term recovery pledges." AFP had the story August 9, 2010.

"Blue Crabs Provide Evidence of Oil Tainting Gulf Food Web"

"To assess how heavy a blow the BP oil spill has dealt the Gulf of Mexico, researchers are closely watching a staple of the seafood industry and primary indicator of the ecosystem's health: the blue crab.

"Well Capping Brings Relief But Fear of Abandonment"

With the Deepwater Horizon gusher capped, many Gulf residents who are still hurting from the spill can feel the nation's gaze turning away.

"Seafood Voodoo"

Gulf seafood that gets to market is testing safe. But after three months of disaster news coverage, the eating public is not yet fully convinced.

"Oil Spill Plugged, But More Oiled Birds Than Ever Are Being Found"

"More than three weeks after BP capped its gushing oil well, skimming operations have all but stopped and federal scientists say just a quarter of the oil remains in the Gulf of Mexico. But wildlife officials are rounding up more oiled birds than ever as fledgling birds get stuck in the residual goo and rescuers make initial visits to rookeries they had avoided disturbing during nesting season." Paul Rioux reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune August 8, 2010.