Gerald Herbert / AP Photo
It’s probably not how they wanted to welcome summer on the Louisiana Coast: Oil leaking from the rig that exploded April 20 will begin washing up on land as early as Saturday, despite efforts to contain it. The oil slick now covers 1,800 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers say they believe they have spotted a sperm whale swimming in the sheen. According to The Huffington Post, “Relatives of workers who are presumed dead claim that the oil behemoth BP and rig owner TransOcean violated numerous statutes and regulations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard.” The lawsuit alleges that both companies failed to provide a competent crew, failed to adequately supervise its employees, and failed to create a safe workplace.