Obama officials defend accuracy of report saying most of the spilled oil in Gulf is gone
By APWednesday, August 4, 2010
Obama team defends upbeat Gulf oil spill report
WASHINGTON — Government officials are defending the credibility of a new report that much of the oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico is gone.
Nearly three-quarters of the oil has been collected, dispersed, evaporated or dissolved, according to a report by the Interior Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. President Barack Obama and other government officials hailed the news as an important, positive development.
Given earlier troubles with government estimates, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco was asked Wednesday about the credibility of the numbers.
She says the government used direct measurements and the best estimates available for the new report and has a high degree of confidence in them. She says the numbers can be updated as new information comes in.
Tags: Accidents, Barack Obama, Environmental Concerns, North America, United States, Washington
