Where the oil went

But federal agencies are warning that the crisis is far from over.

“Less oil on the surface does not mean that there isn’t oil still in the water column or that our beaches and marshes aren’t still at risk.  Knowing generally what happened to the oil helps us better understand areas of risk and likely impacts,” said Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a statement Wednesday. NOAA crafted the report with the Interior Department and outside experts.

The Obama administration, in releasing the report, similarly cautioned, “The estimates do not make conclusions about the long-term impacts of oil on the Gulf. Fully understanding the damages and impacts of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem is something that will take time and continued monitoring and research.”