For its first three-year phase, the Panel expects to spending the first year consulting, observing and reviewing in order to develop a set of recommendations for biodiversity-responsible oil spill clean-up.

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Rough weather since Hurricane Alex passed through the Gulf, to the south of the spill, has hampered clean-up operations for the last week.

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An operation was being mounted to contain and clean-up the spill, including skimmers, booms to contain the oil and aeroplanes to drop dispersants on it.

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The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund ensures that there are sufficient resources available to pay for clean-up and damages associated with an oil spill.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

There is also the possibility that this explosion could cause a 400-million-gallon spill that will be expensive to clean up.

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But there is hope - both for Guernsey and for future oil spill clean up campaigns.

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