—The federal government gave BP the green light Wednesday to try choking off the Gulf of Mexico oil gusher with an untested metal cap after a daylong delay to satisfy worries about whether the project might make the leak worse. National Incident Commander Thad Allen said testing would begin later Wednesday after government scientists carefully reviewed whether new leaks would erupt from the well once it was sealed off. BP got the 75-ton cap in place Monday atop the well. The device is meant is to stop the oil and pump excess to ships, raising hopes the gusher could be checked. BP was getting ready to test pressure on the well by closing valves in the cap when the government intervened late Tuesday.
—Scientists are reporting early signs that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is altering the marine food web by killing or tainting some creatures and spurring the growth of others more suited to a fouled environment. If such impacts continue, the scientists warn of a grim reshuffling of sealife that could over time cascade through the ecosystem and imperil the region’s multibillion-dollar fishing industry.
—Regulators urged banks to make loans to creditworthy people and businesses whose livelihoods have been hurt by the Gulf Oil spill. Regulators said banks should make an effort to work with customers to help them get over any financial humps. Doing so, will help the local economies heal and strengthen the long-term relationships between the banks and their customers.
—A government investigation of the deadly explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is set to resume next week. The Coast Guard and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement have scheduled five more days of hearings, from July 19 through July 23.
—Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said Wednesday she is concerned the seemingly unending nature of the oil spill is causing mental health issues across the Gulf region. She said stress could show up in everything from stomach aches in children to substance abuse and domestic violence in adults.
—Attorney General Eric Holder has indicated that corporations other than BP could be held liable eventually for the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He said they are looking at all the corporations that were involved in the spill.
—-Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at [email protected].