Amid a wave of finger-pointing, rough waters in the Gulf of Mexico have quickly tripled the surface area of what could become one of the most disastrous oil spills in U.S. history, with the goo already lapping at valuable shoreline habitat. –JCL

Associated Press:

VENICE, La. — The surface area of a catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill quickly tripled in size amid growing fears among experts that the slick could become vastly more devastating than it seemed just two days ago.

Frustrated fishermen eager to help contain the spill from a ruptured underwater well had to keep their boats idle Saturday as another day of rough seas kept crews away from the slick, and President Barack Obama planned a Sunday trip to the Gulf Coast.

Documents also emerged showing BP downplayed the possibility of a catastrophic accident at the offshore rig that exploded.

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