CUSTOMS EXTENDS QUOTA PREPROCESSING TEST THROUGH 2002
The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday that the Mississippi River would be closed to all vessels until further notice, after a spill of crude oil near the mouth of the river approximately 60 miles south of New Orleans.
A Bahamian-flag tanker ran aground near Venice, La., about 6 p.m. Tuesday, spilling almost 13,000 barrels of Nigerian sweet crude.
The river was shut between mile markers nine and 38, a Coast Guard spokesman said. About 30 vessels are involved in clean-up operations.