Scientists Blame U.S. for Weak Response

As viscous brown oil begins to seep into the Louisiana marshlands, a month after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, the blame is expanding. Scientists on Wednesday took aim at the U.S. response to the accident, alleging that the administration has not been rigorous enough in seeking detailed information about the spill. “It seems baffling that we don’t know how much oil is being spilled,” noted oceanographer Sylvia Earle said Wednesday. “It seems baffling that we don’t know where the oil is in the water column.” Meanwhile, BP announced that it could begin the process of clogging the well with mud as early as Sunday. Until then, it will continue to siphon oil from the gusher at a rate of about 3,000 barrels a day.