La. gov, Sen. Vitter keep up criticism of BP, Coast Guard for lack of plans to protect coast

La. gov keeps up criticism of BP in Gulf oil spill

NEW ORLEANS — Gov. Bobby Jindal and other officials are keeping up their criticism of BP PLC and the Coast Guard, saying they never provided plans to protect the Louisiana coast from an oil spill.

Jindal and Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana spoke Tuesday at Fort Pike, where efforts are under way to protect Lake Pontchartrain from the oil. Jindal says local leaders have stepped in to come up with their own solutions and officials are waiting for the Coast Guard to approve the plans and BP to fund them.

BP spokesman Larry Thomas says work is continuing to stop one of the smaller leaks from the well.

The company says capping the pipe would not reduce leaking oil, but would make installing a containment system easier.