More federal waters in Gulf reopening to fishing

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. government is reopening more federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico for commercial and recreational fishing that had been closed because of the massive oil spill.

Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told reporters today that the government is reopening 4,281 square miles of federal waters off the coast of western Louisiana.

Oil sheen has not been seen there since July 29, and scientists found no oil or dispersants on samples of the area’s shrimp and finfish.

Twenty percent of federal waters in the Gulf remain closed.

Meanwhile, oil giant BP is preparing to permanently kill its undersea well. First, engineers plan to raise the failed blowout preventer, a key piece of evidence in ongoing investigations.