Giant plumes of oil discovered underwater suggest "official" estimate of leak may be incorrect

{Oil covered water off the coast of Louisiana on May 9. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)}

examiner.com

May 16, 5:30 PMOrlando Independent ExaminerGregory Patin

"A review of widely varying estimates of the amount of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico showed huge discrepancies between the "official" government and BP estimate and those of various scientists.

The discovery of huge underwater plumes of oil by University of Georgia researchers suggests that scientists may be correct and that BP and the U.S. government have grossly underestimated the amount of oil gushing into the waters of the Gulf.

The New York Times reported yesterday that "scientists are finding enormous oil plumes in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, including one as large as 10 miles long, 3 miles wide and 300 feet thick. The discovery is fresh evidence that the leak from the broken undersea well could be substantially worse than estimates that the government and BP have given."

According to the Times' report, the undersea plumes may go a long way toward explaining the discrepancy between the flow estimates, suggesting that much of the oil emerging from the well could be lingering far below the sea surface. ...

... All reports indicate that the situation in the Gulf is going from bad to worse, and that the severity of it has been either grossly underestimated, or hidden from the public by BP and the U.S. government. Unfortunately, the truth will inevitably hit the beaches and the economy of the Gulf states." More>>>>

Brief commnet: OK. Enough already. Since industry is not being forthright and assuming accountability, President Obama needs to stop making speeches about the situation and take executive actions to remedy this unmitigated disaster, immediately.