Documents indicate heavy use of dispersants in Gulf oil spill

Documents indicate that controversial dispersant chemicals were not used only in “rare cases” during the Gulf oil spill cleanup, as ordered by the Obama administration. Washington Post reports:

“Despite the order—and concerns about the environmental effects of the dispersants—the Coast Guard granted requests to use them 74 times over 54 days, and to use them on the surface and deep underwater at the well site. The Coast Guard approved every request submitted by BP or local Coast Guard commanders in Houma, La., although in some cases it reduced the amount of the chemicals they could use, according to an analysis of the documents prepared by the office of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).”