BP oil spill: Environmental 9|11

Oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill covers a protective oil boom in northwestern Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana, June 14, 2010. BP may have taken dangerous "shortcuts" in the "days and hours" before a deadly blast that led to the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill, key lawmakers investigating the catastrophe charged Monday. (AFP)
Pelicans rest near an oil slick boom off Bird Island Two June 14, 2010 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some 1,282 oiled birds have been captured in time to be treated with the intention of eventually releasing them back into the wild. The BP spill has been called the largest environmental disaster in American history. U.S. government scientists have estimated that the flow rate of oil gushing out of a ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well may be as high 40,000 barrels per day. President Obama will make his fourth trip to the Gulf on Monday. (AFP)
A dolphin rises up out of the water off the coast near Grand Terre Island off the coast of Louisiana on Monday, June 14, 2010. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill continues to impact areas across the coast of gulf states. (AP)
Workers lay out new lines of boom along a pier on June 14, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. U.S. government scientists have estimated that the flow rate of oil gushing out of the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well in Gulf of Mexico may be as high 40,000 barrels per day. (AFP)
A boat covered in oil used to haul up boom is seen departing the beach on June 14, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. U.S. government scientists have estimated that the flow rate of oil gushing out of the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well in Gulf of Mexico may be as high 40,000 barrels per day. (AFP)
Oil soaked boom is seen near the base of a fishing pier on June 14, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. U.S. government scientists have estimated that the flow rate of oil gushing out of the ruptured Deepwater Horizon oil well in Gulf of Mexico may be as high 40,000 barrels per day. (GETTY IMAGES)
The sun sets behind two under construction offshore oil platform rigs in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, June 14, 2010, as cleanup continues on the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (AFP)
Oil breaches a hard boom that surrounds Cat Island off the coast of Louisiana on Monday, June 14, 2010. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill continues to impact areas across the Gulf Coast. (AP)
Two egrets search for food in a canal beside an oil contaminated beach June 14, 2010 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Oil producer BP said today that it plans to sell recovered oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with profits going toward a wildlife protection fund. (GETTY IMAGES)