US Congress Steps Up Gulf Oil Spill Probe

18 May 2010

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, right, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, testify on Capitol Hill in Washington before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 18 May 2010

The U.S. Congress is stepping up its probe of the Gulf oil spill. Top administration officials appeared before three Senate committees on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

The Obama administration is clearly under pressure to do more to help contain the damage, and prevent another such disaster in the future.

APThis undated frame grab image provided by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, received from British Petroleum (BP) shows details of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where the Deepwater Horizon rig sank last month. (AP Photo/Senate Environment and Public Works Committee)

A new underwater video - released as the latest hearings began - shows oil continuing to spill from the deep water well.

The BP oil company, which provided the video, says it has been siphoning about 2000 barrels of oil a day using a narrow tube inserted in the well.

But Barbara Boxer, the chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, says too little progress is being made.

"This is an ongoing nightmarem" she said. "And if ever we are going to reform, you know, it is now."

The California Democrat wants the federal agencies involved in off-shore drilling to be more effective.