US sets BP 72-hour deadline for fresh oil spill plans

WASHINGTON: The US government has given British energy giant BP a 72-hour deadline to produce updated plans to contain and recover the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, an official letter said Wednesday.

"BP shall provide the plans for these parallel, continuous, and contingency collection processes, including an implementation timeline, within 72 hours of receiving this letter," ordered the letter.

The missive from federal on-scene coordinator Rear Admiral James Watson to BP chief operating officer Doug Suttles was dated Tuesday.