BP has vowed to clean up the spill, but is now trying to deny aspects of its environmental damage. On Sunday, BP CEO Tony Hayward was quoted disputing experts’ claims to have discovered oil plumes trapped in large quantities and spreading miles underseas. Hayward said, "The oil is on the surface. There aren’t any plumes." Hayward also told reporters he doubts that scores of workers and fishermen have gotten sick from the toxic dispersants used to break up the oil in the water. He instead said the workers had suffered food poisoning.

Tony Hayward: "I’m sure they were genuinely ill, but whether it was anything to do with dispersants and oil, whether it was food poisoning or some other reason for them being ill, you know, there’s a — food poisoning is clearly a big issue when you’ve got a, you know, concentration of this number of people in temporary camps, temporary accommodation. It’s something we have to be very, very mindful of. It’s one of the big issues of keeping the army operating. You know, armies march on their stomachs."

A number of workers involved in the clean-up have been hospitalized. Hayward’s comment came shortly after he publicly complained about the disaster’s impact on his personal life.

Tony Hayward: "We’re sorry for the massive disruption it’s caused to their lives. And, you know, we’re — there’s no one who wants this thing over more than I do. You know, I’d like my life back."