American Morning
BP nears decision on 'top kill' procedure
(CNN) – BP's top official said the oil company will make a decision later Wednesday on whether to proceed with a "top kill" procedure designed to contain oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.
BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward told CNN's "American Morning" that a determination will be made after testing is complete.
"So far, it's looking OK," he said. "But we haven't got all the data we need."
Top kill has worked successfully on above-ground oil wells in the Middle East but has never been tested 5,000 feet underwater. Hayward has given the "top kill" maneuver a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of success.
From angry residents of the Gulf Coast to frustrated lawmakers in Washington, many pinned hopes that with the top kill, BP finally would be able to stop the oil leak. Otherwise, they said, it was time for the government to take charge. Read more
Will boycotting BP have an impact?
(CNN) – It is BP's best hope for sealing the Gulf oil leak, but the oil giant gives the "top kill" procedure a 60-to-70 percent chance of success. Meanwhile, anger is growing along with the spill and American consumers are taking action against BP for polluting the Gulf. Our Allan Chernoff has the report.
Many Dems want White House to take over oil spill efforts
(CNN) – Later today, lawmakers on Capitol Hill will be looking into whether the feds could have prevented the Gulf oil spill. The hearing could end up being a report card on the crisis for government officials and the president. Our Jim Acosta reports on that side of the story from Washington.
Energy official grilled on oil response
(CNN) – Oil company BP is expected to discuss Tuesday its next attempt to contain the gushing oil in the Gulf of Mexico - a maneuver called a "top kill" that it plans to implement the following day.
All previous attempts by the company to cap the spill have failed, and BP CEO Tony Hayward said the top kill maneuver will have a 60 to 70 percent chance of success when it is put in place as early as Wednesday morning.
Carol Browner, the assistant to the president on energy and climate change, said Tuesday that she is optimistic about the method.
"We want this to work and will do everything in our power to make sure it works," the former Environmental Protection Agency administrator said. "We need the BP technology - they know how to operate the little robots, how to operate the vessels. But we're not relying on them."
Browner said the federal government will have its own experts analyze and evaluate the top kill procedure.
"We want this thing shut down," she said. Read more
Gulf Coast fisheries shut by oil spill
(CNN) – Today is day 36 of the oil spill in the Gulf. Twenty percent of the fisheries in the region have now been shut down. The Commerce Department is freeing up federal help by declaring a fisheries disaster. 150 miles of Gulf coast shoreline are now impacted by the spill. Birds and fish are dying, and jobs are vanishing. And as our Rob Marciano reports, it's getting very difficult for the locals to just sit back and watch what's happening.
Exclusive: CNN cameras go deep for oil slick images
(CNN) – Dozens of ships are steaming toward the site of the oil spill in the Gulf today. In two days, they're expected to begin a "top kill" operation to plug the spewing well. Meanwhile, the debate over dispersants is raging. The EPA has ordered BP to switch to a less toxic product, but the oil giant is refusing. We've seen the damage that's been done on shore and on the ocean surface, but now we're bringing you exclusive pictures of the slick below sea level.
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