Scientists Fault U.S. Response in Assessing Spill

Scientists assert that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies have been slow to investigate the magnitude of the spill and the damage it is causing in the deep ocean. They are especially concerned about problems that may be occurring from large plumes of oil droplets that appear to be spreading beneath the ocean surface. They point out that in the month since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, the government has failed to make public a single test result on water from the deep ocean. And the scientists say the administration has been too reluctant to demand an accurate analysis of how many gallons of oil are flowing into the sea from the gushing oil well.

New York Times May 20, 2010