—BP says the rig drilling the relief well that’s the best hope of stopping the Gulf oil spill has made it within about 20 feet horizontally of the blown-out well that’s gushing crude. The rig is going to drill an additional 900 feet down before crews cut in sideways and start pumping in heavy mud to try to stop the flow from the damaged well. It’s currently about 16,770 feet down. The relief well is still on target to be finished by early August. A second well is being drilled as a backup.
—Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine is again asking BP for $10 million for mental health services to state residents affected by the oil spill. Levine says counseling teams have talked to nearly 2,000 people in affected areas, and report increases in anxiety, depression, stress, grief, drinking, and thoughts of suicide. Levine says $10 million will support six months of outreach and services.
—Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals says 162 people — including 128 cleanup workers — have reported health complaints they believe were caused by exposure to oil spill pollutants since April 20. It says the most common symptoms are headache, nausea and throat irritation, and some people have multiple symptoms.
—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says about 72 pelicans cleaned up from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will be released on Tuesday in Georgia. This is the largest release since the first oiled bird — a gannet — was found April 27.
—Tropical Storm Alex could still stir up heavy winds, rain and choppy seas that drive the oil deeper inland and bring much of the cleanup to a standstill. By midweek, boats skimming the sludge from the water may have to return to port for their own safety, and the floating oil-containment booms could be rendered useless by waves slopping over them and may have to be pulled out of the water.