Universities offer research help

Gulf Coast universities are lining up to help study the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Mississippi's higher education commissioner, Hank Bounds, was on Capitol Hill during the week touting the state's research capabilities. "I think we have an obligation to make certain that we bring our intellectual capabilities into play," he said. (Source: Clarion Ledger, 05/27/10) Michael Carron, director of the Northern Gulf Institute at Stennis Space Center, Miss., was also in Washington. NGI is a consortium of universities that study the Gulf of Mexico. Carron said it will take years before the impact is fully known, along with millions in research dollars. He said BP has already committed $500 million. (Source: Sun Herald, 05/28/10) The BP well exploded April 20, killing 11 workers. Oil and gas has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico ever since. BP is currently trying to stop the leak by forcing heavy mud and debris into the pipe. NOAA has extended the closed fishing area in the Gulf of Mexico. It now represents about 25 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters.