Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Senior Obama administration officials said on Thursday a widening oil spill in the US Gulf Coast will come ashore tomorrow evening and that it may take 90 days to shut off the oil leak valve.
Briefing reporters at the White House, the officials described the spill as being of national significance and said the government will push BP Plc as hard as possible to stop the leak and lead the cleanup.
It could be 90 days before a relief valve is installed to stop the leak, the officials said.
"The spill is now crossing different regions," said Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano. "We will continue to push BP to engage in the strongest response possible.
Coast Guard Rear Admiral Sally Brice O'Hare said the oil slick is expected to hit the Gulf shoreline on Friday evening.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has ordered an immediate safety review of offshore rigs, the officials said.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration will be aggressive in its response to the leak, triggered by a deadly rig explosion that now threatens the shoreline of four Gulf states.
He said all available resources, including the possible use of the military, had been offered to combat the spill.
BP and the Coast Guard have already mounted what the London-based company calls the largest oil spill containment operation in history, involving dozens of ships and aircraft.
But they are struggling to control the slick from the leaking well 5,000 feet (1,525 metres) under the sea off Louisiana's coast, which the Coast Guard said late on Wednesday was spilling five times more oil than previously estimated.
Napolitano said the oil leak was distinct from the 1989 leak of oil from the Exxon Valdez tanker off the coast of Alaska, when 10.8 million gallons of oil spilled.
"The Valdez was a knowable quantity of oil because it was a ship. This is a well," she said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments