By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-902381.mp3
New Orleans, La. – BP executive Doug Suttles says that after flying over the oil spill with the Louisiana governor, he's certain that the slick is smaller.
"Our efforts offshore are making a big difference now. The combination of the riser insertion tube with using dispersants and other tools this is probably the smallest amount of oil I've seen on the surface since the effort began."
But local officials and others are worried about what's underneath. One local leader wants to build a barrier island to stop blobs of oil that are starting to wash ashore. And some scientists are reporting tentacles of underwater oil 10 miles long and hundreds of feet thick. The Coast Guard says concerns about the deep-water oil are premature until water testing and other information is verified.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.