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US oil clean-up 'will take years' US oil clean-up 'will take years'
(about 1 hour later)
US Coast Guard chief Thad Allen has warned that cleaning up marshlands and other habitats affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will take years.US Coast Guard chief Thad Allen has warned that cleaning up marshlands and other habitats affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will take years.
Adm Allen also said oil giant BP needed to do better at getting money to people and businesses affected by the spill.Adm Allen also said oil giant BP needed to do better at getting money to people and businesses affected by the spill.
An estimated 11,000 barrels of oil a day are now being funneled from the leak by a new containment cap, he said.An estimated 11,000 barrels of oil a day are now being funneled from the leak by a new containment cap, he said.
President Barack Obama told Americans they would "get through this crisis", despite the damage to the economy.President Barack Obama told Americans they would "get through this crisis", despite the damage to the economy.
The leaking wellhead is currently spewing out between 12,000 and 24,000 barrels of oil per day.The leaking wellhead is currently spewing out between 12,000 and 24,000 barrels of oil per day.
Mr Obama told reporters he was committed to seeing the Gulf region restored to a condition better than it was before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank on 20 April, killing 11 workers.Mr Obama told reporters he was committed to seeing the Gulf region restored to a condition better than it was before the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank on 20 April, killing 11 workers.
Salty languageSalty language
The president has come under criticism that he has not shown the American people enough leadership or anger over the disaster.The president has come under criticism that he has not shown the American people enough leadership or anger over the disaster.
But in an interview with US television on Monday Mr Obama defended his handling of the crisis, saying he had frequently consulted with experts on the oil spill in order to learn "whose ass to kick".But in an interview with US television on Monday Mr Obama defended his handling of the crisis, saying he had frequently consulted with experts on the oil spill in order to learn "whose ass to kick".
"I was down there a month ago before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the gulf," he told network NBC."I was down there a month ago before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the gulf," he told network NBC.
"... I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know who's ass to kick," he added. "I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar. We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers so I know whose ass to kick," he added.
'Greater capacity''Greater capacity'
Adm Allen told reporters it would take "a couple of months" to clear the oil slick from the surface of the Gulf.Adm Allen told reporters it would take "a couple of months" to clear the oil slick from the surface of the Gulf.
But, he said: "Long-term issues of restoring environments and habitats will be years."But, he said: "Long-term issues of restoring environments and habitats will be years."
Four US states have now been affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spillFour US states have now been affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
He said that while BP had nearly doubled the amount of oil being funnelled from the leaking wellhead since Friday, it was now "trying to increase that production rate, close the venting valves and move to a greater capacity".He said that while BP had nearly doubled the amount of oil being funnelled from the leaking wellhead since Friday, it was now "trying to increase that production rate, close the venting valves and move to a greater capacity".
He said BP was hoping to move a second production platform into the area to increase the amount of oil that could be siphoned off.He said BP was hoping to move a second production platform into the area to increase the amount of oil that could be siphoned off.
Adm Allen added that BP was also preparing a bigger rig to process a greater capacity of oil in severe weather. Hurricane season in the region opened last week.Adm Allen added that BP was also preparing a bigger rig to process a greater capacity of oil in severe weather. Hurricane season in the region opened last week.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs warned, however, that collectin oil through the containment cap fixed over the leaking well remained a risky operation.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs warned, however, that collectin oil through the containment cap fixed over the leaking well remained a risky operation.
Response costResponse cost
BP said on Monday that the cost of its response to the disaster in the Gulf had reached about $1.25bn (£860m).BP said on Monday that the cost of its response to the disaster in the Gulf had reached about $1.25bn (£860m).
This number does not include $360m (£248m) for a project to build six sand berms to protect Louisiana's wetlands from the spreading oil, BP has said.This number does not include $360m (£248m) for a project to build six sand berms to protect Louisiana's wetlands from the spreading oil, BP has said.
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill has been found on beaches and wetlands along more than 100 miles (161 km) of coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill has been found on beaches and wetlands along more than 100 miles (161 km) of coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
An observation flight spotted a sheen of oil 150 miles west of Tampa, Florida, on Sunday.An observation flight spotted a sheen of oil 150 miles west of Tampa, Florida, on Sunday.
Tar balls continued to wash ashore on Monday in Pensacola, Florida, and the popular tourist town of Panama City, in the same state, expected oil to reach its beaches within 72 hours.Tar balls continued to wash ashore on Monday in Pensacola, Florida, and the popular tourist town of Panama City, in the same state, expected oil to reach its beaches within 72 hours.
"We have just entered the area of uncertainty for about half of our beach," said Dan Rowe, president of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors' Bureau."We have just entered the area of uncertainty for about half of our beach," said Dan Rowe, president of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors' Bureau.
He added: "We are still hoping tar balls don't show up here, but we are putting the contingency plans in place and everyone is out there looking at the beach and inspecting it."He added: "We are still hoping tar balls don't show up here, but we are putting the contingency plans in place and everyone is out there looking at the beach and inspecting it."
Public responsePublic response
Both BP and the US government have been criticised for their responses to the spill.Both BP and the US government have been criticised for their responses to the spill.
According a survey released on Monday by ABC and the Washington Post, nearly three out of four Americans say that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a major disaster, and the majority of those surveyed want legal action to be taken against BP and its partners.According a survey released on Monday by ABC and the Washington Post, nearly three out of four Americans say that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a major disaster, and the majority of those surveyed want legal action to be taken against BP and its partners.
Eight in 10 people surveyed criticise the way BP has handled the spill, and 51% of people say they feel strongly that the federal government should pursue criminal charges against BP and the other companies involved in the disaster.Eight in 10 people surveyed criticise the way BP has handled the spill, and 51% of people say they feel strongly that the federal government should pursue criminal charges against BP and the other companies involved in the disaster.
Nearly seven in 10 gave the government's response to the spill a negative rating.Nearly seven in 10 gave the government's response to the spill a negative rating.
The US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have so far been affected in the six weeks since the spill began.The US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have so far been affected in the six weeks since the spill began.

Attempt to cap oil leak

The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
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Attempt to cap oil leak

The latest stage in BP's efforts to contain leaking oil has involved lowering a cap onto the failed blowout preventer (BOP) valve system on the seabed. The cap sits on the BOP's lower marine riser package (LMRP) section.
First, the damaged riser - the pipe which takes oil from the well - was cut where it nears the seabed using a remotely-operated shear. This was completed at 1930 CDT on 1 June (0030 GMT 2 June).
The next stage was for a diamond wire cutter to saw through the riser close to the LMRP. The blade got stuck and had to be removed but BP eventually cut through the pipe using giant shears manipulated by undersea robots (ROV).
After removing the pipe, the cap was lowered onto the LMRP enabling the leaking oil and gas to be funnelled to a drill ship on the surface. Latest estimates suggest more than half of the leaking oil is now being captured.
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