Marine scientists, meanwhile, have discovered what they say is a massive new plume of oil stretching twenty-two miles beneath the Gulf, the second such discovery since the spill. Experts believe the plume resulted from the toxic dispersants used by BP to break up the oil. In contrast to the first, the new plume is headed inward toward the habitats of many fish and other species. On Thursday, oceanographer Ian MacDonald of Florida State University said BP has been minimizing the size of coastal areas affected by the spill.

Ian MacDonald: “I cannot understand why BP persists in making these claims on television that are so patently false and so easily disproved. I mean, don’t they have PR people telling them that the best thing to do is to fess up and admit what they have to do. I mean, this is absolutely shocking, and I can’t believe that they are persisting in this.”