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In this Sept. 5, 2012 aerial photo, a combination of alluvial clay and tar mats are seen on the shore of Elmer's Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, in Jefferson Parish, La. Tests run by Louisiana State University for state wildlife officials confirmed that oil found on Elmer's Island and Grand Isle matched the biological fingerprint of the hundreds of millions of gallons of oil that spewed from BP's Macondo well. On Wednesday, BP PLC said oil from its spill had been exposed by Isaac's waves and that the company would work to clean it up. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
U.S. Sen. David Vitter criticized the cleanup at a field briefing in New Orleans of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, which he sits on.
Vitter expressed frustration that more is not being done to clean up about 200 miles of oiled Louisiana coast. Vitter and other Louisiana officials contend the Coast Guard has allowed BP to wind down cleanup operations prematurely.
The Coast Guard denied that Tuesday.
Although invited to appear, BP did not have a representative at the Senate briefing.