By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-915436.mp3
New Orleans, La. – Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen says he's confident the relief well to kill the broken well will work.
"Obviously the depth is a challenge here, but we are optimistic that we'll get this thing done."
Allen says if not, there's a second relief well that's almost done, and a system to pipe oil into nearby production facilities in the Gulf. Meantime, Allen says there's no timeline for scientific teams to determine how much oil has spewed into the Gulf. He says teams are working on refining estimates of up to 60,000 barrels a day. BP faces fines based on the amount that's polluted the water. Allen says tracking oil on the surface is more difficult because oil is dissolving and breaking apart in the warm water.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.