EPA administrator tells community leaders the spill is a challenge but not a catastrophe yet

EPA Jackson holds community meeting in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson says the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has spawned a huge environmental challenge, but not yet a catastrophe.

She told community leaders gathered at a New Orleans church Saturday that the spill is a challenge complicated by the well head being 5,000 feet below water.

Jackson says efforts to use dispersant at the surface of the spill have been “moderately successful,” but she’s skeptical of a proposal to try to disperse oil at the well head.

Audience members vented their anger at BP’s response and urged Jackson to hold the company to hire local contractors to assist in the cleanup.

After the meeting, Jackson expressed confidence BP is “working on this with all cylinders.”