The federal government is finally acknowledging the BP oil spill has created large underwater oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists at the University of South Florida say oil plumes now stretch forty-two miles northeast of the Deepwater Horizon well site and 142 miles southwest. Scientists attempting to study the oil plumes say their efforts have been hindered because BP has refused to share samples of its oil. In late May, BP CEO Tony Hayward disputed reports of oil plumes. In an interview, he said, “The oil is on the surface. There aren’t any plumes.”