By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-924611.mp3
New Orleans, La. – The president issued a statement, pledging to work closely with Gulf communities to restore their damaged livelihoods and ecosystems. National Incident Commander Thad Allen also issued a statement, promising an aggressive cleanup. Coastal communities, especially hard-hit in Louisiana, are still seeing oil wash ashore. More than four million barrels of oil gushed into the Gulf after an April 20th drilling rig explosion killed 11 workers. It was capped in mid-July, and finally plugged with cement over the weekend. Federal officials say most of the oil has been recovered in the clean up, dissolved or evaporated in the warm Gulf water. And they say Gulf seafood is safe to eat. Fishermen say they now face a battle in winning back skeptical consumers.
For NPR News, I'm Eileen Fleming in New Orleans.