The Obama administration is clearly under pressure to do more to help contain the damage, and prevent another such disaster in the future. A new underwater video - released just the latest hearings began - shows oil continuing to (1)________________________.
The BP oil company, which provided the video, says it has been siphoning about 2000 barrels of oil a day using a narrow tube inserted in the well. But Barbara Boxer, the chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says too little progress is being made.
"This is an ongoing nightmare. And if ever we are going to reform, you know, it's now." The California Democrat wants (2)________________________to be more effective.
The lead agency is the Minerals Management Service or MMS, which is part of the Interior Department. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar admits there have been lapses, and that federal regulators have been too sympathetic in the past to the oil industry. But he told the Senate panel that things are changing.
"We have done a lot to reorganize this agency; we will be announcing (3)________________________ with respect to MMS."