Rig owner complains of investigation delays

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico has told federal investigators that the now infamous blowout preventer is in danger of corroding and its value as a key piece of evidence may be compromised.

Transocean lawyer Steven Roberts says in a letter to the federal investigation team that as of last week forensic testing had not yet begun on the device even though it’s been sitting at a NASA facility in New Orleans for two months. He says it may be corroding because of inadequate preservation.

The letter was obtained today by The Associated Press.

A spokeswoman for the investigation had no immediate comment.

The device failed to stop oil from gushing into the sea following the April 20 Deepwater Horizon explosion.