Gov’t plan to assess costs could delay Gulf oil spill cleanup in the event of a hurricane

Storm plan could delay Gulf oil spill cleanup

WASHINGTON — If a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast this season, workers cleaning up the BP oil spill won’t be able to swoop immediately into action to fix the mess.

According to a response plan obtained by The Associated Press, a new Obama administration edict requires that the oil be tested for its origin before it can be cleaned up.

That’s supposed to make it easier for the government to get reimbursed from BP if a hurricane spreads oil from the Gulf of Mexico into backyards, neighborhoods and wetlands.

It could also cause frustrating delays and prevent residents from returning to their homes while the government figures out who pays.