Allen gives BP mixed grade for oil spill response

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s point man overseeing BP’s response to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico gives the company high marks for its engineering response, but low marks in dealing with people.

Speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen says he isn’t sure any oil company could have done more to cap the spill once it happened.

But Allen says BP was too big of a company to immediately deal with the problems the spill caused individuals along the coast.

Crews are getting ready to resume drilling on a relief well to seal the leak permanently.

Last week, BP hinted it might not use the relief well. But Allen told CBS’ “Face the Nation” he spoke directly to incoming CEO Bob Dudley and told him that it must be used.