NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard admiral overseeing cleanup of
the BP oil spill says extensive sampling of the Gulf of Mexico
seafloor has found oil in quantities too small to merit collection.
The Coast Guard's findings - to be released in a report Friday -
are in contrast to reports from independent scientists who say oil
has extensively damaged the seafloor.
"We are not finding any recoverable amounts of oil," Rear Adm.
Paul Zukunft told The Associated Press. "We are finding traces of
oil."
He says the concentrations fall far short of harmful levels
under federal pollution laws.
One site about a mile from the capped BP PLC well a mile under
the Gulf has a higher concentration. Zukunft says no technology
exists to collect it at that depth though it will be monitored.

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