Official: Little long-term gulf spill harm

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- A U.S. official says the long-term impacts of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster could be relatively minor, and the gulf will probably fully recover.

Ken Feinberg, the government-appointed compensation chief, said his optimistic prediction is based on opinions the government solicited from experts, USA Today reported.

"We're asking everybody right now -- scientists, biologists -- (to) give us your best estimate ... of the status of the gulf," Feinberg said. "We're hearing right now, not much long-term adverse impact."

The April explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

Environmentalists were quick to call Feinberg's assessment premature.

"We're talking about a very complex system, and it's impossible to say there's minimal long-term impact at this point," Kert Davies, director of research for Greenpeace, said.

"I don't think we'll understand the full extent of the impact for five or 10 years," he said.

Feinberg Monday acknowledged some scientists disagree and said that's why the $20 billion claims fund created by oil giant BP "will do our best to give a generous final-payment option."

The fund has already paid out $2.5 billion to 170,000 individuals and businesses, about a third of all claimants, Feinberg said.