Environmental groups ask federal government to take control of oil spill cleanup
By APWednesday, May 19, 2010
Environmentalists want fed control of oil cleanup
NEW ORLEANS — Environmental groups are asking the federal government to take over all monitoring and testing related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Oil has been spewing since an offshore drilling rig leased by oil giant BP PLC exploded off the coast of Louisiana April 20 and sank two days later.
In remarks prepared for congressional testimony, National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger says BP is keeping too much information from the public.
His group and nine others asked President Barack Obama on Wednesday to order more direct federal oversight. They want the government to release the results of all tests so far.
BP says it is working urgently with federal agencies and has had a large degree of success keeping oil offshore.
Online:
Letter text: tinyurl.com/3yer5tp
Tags: Accidents, Barack Obama, Energy, Environmental Activism, Environmental Concerns, Louisiana, New Orleans, North America, Oil spill, United States
