Environment: Oil crisis update

It will be early next week before BP attempts to use heavy mud to stem the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The method, called "top kill," involves pumping heavy drilling mud with twice the density of water into the well. The well has been spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico since the rig exploded April 20, killing 11 workers. In other oil-related events: booms filled with hair will not be used to keep oil from the shoreline because they get water soaked and sink; BP says it has no alternative dispersant to use after the EPA told it to find a less toxic dispersant; BP, a day after acknowledging more oil is seeping into the water than has been reported, backed off and said estimates are not taking into account the gas that’s mixed in with the oil. (Source: Multiple, 05/22/10) Note: Multiple organizations at Stennis Space Center, Miss. are responding to the crisis.