Oil Slick Expanding to US Coastline

NEW ORLEANS (Hollywood Backstage) - The United States Coast Guard has set test fires to some areas of the oil slick which threatens the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. So far the tests have been successful, but not nearly enough to contain the 210,000 gallons per day of oil which is spilling out of the broken well one mile deep in the ocean.

According the the United States Coast Guard, a flyover on Tuesday showed a rainbow sheen approximately 600 miles in circumference with areas of emulsified crude. The edge of the sheen is now approximately 16 miles off the coast of Louisiana and making it's way onto the shore.

"What we now know we are dealing with, in addition to that, is oil emanating from the well. That is a big change from yesterday. It's a significant change and it has implications in our response," said Coast Guard Admiral Mary Landry.

“Based on our limited experience, birds and mammals are more capable of handling the risk of a local fire and temporary smoke plume than of handling the risk posed by a spreading oil slick. Birds flying in the plume can become disoriented, and could suffer toxic effects. This risk, however, is minimal when compared to oil coating and ingestion.”

The oil slick threatens the coastlines and fishing industries of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Oil has already been spotted floating near the coast of Louisiana after the enormous leak that resulted from last week's explosion.

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