Coast Guard admiral says scattershot nature of spill poses severe challenges to containment

Official says spreading spill is taxing resources

WASHINGTON — Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says the growing size and scattershot nature of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is creating “severe challenges” for those trying to contain it and clean it up.

Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, Allen said the effort to contain the contamination is more complicated than any spill he’s ever seen.

He said about 20,000 people in the public and private sectors are trying to control the disaster. But he said the spill is straining resources because oil is threatening so many different areas. Now federal officials say there’s a likelihood that oil will get caught up in a powerful current and spread to Florida and eventually up the East Coast.