Obama administration asks BP to be more transparent on size of spill, other information

Feds asks BP to share more information on spill

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration asked BP PLC Thursday to make public detailed information about the Gulf oil spill including all measurements of the growing leak, sampling of air and water quality, trajectories of underwater plumes and locations of dispersants.

The request followed growing criticism from scientists that BP is drastically underestimating the size of the leak — and that government agencies aren’t doing enough to pressure the company to be transparent and allow independent reviews.

“In responding to this oil spill, it is critical that all actions be conducted in a transparent manner, with all data and information related to the spill readily available to the United States Government and the American people,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson wrote to the company’s chief executive, Tony Hayward.

The letter asks for a website address to be provided to the government within 24 hours with sampling plans, and work plans. Within 48 hours the company is asked to post a large range of environmental and analytical data in detailed form.

For weeks BP has said the flow is 210,000 gallons a day, but scientists say the amount could be much higher. A BP official conceded Thursday there could be more.

BP officials did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.