Feds: Gulf disaster final report delayed slightly

ATLANTA — A joint final report by the U.S. Coast Guard and the federal agency that regulates offshore drilling on what caused last year’s Gulf of Mexico disaster will be delayed again.

Following several extensions, the Coast Guard and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement was due to release its final report by Wednesday. But a spokeswoman for the joint investigation team said Friday there will be a slight delay. Another formal extension has been approved.

A new date wasn’t given.

In its own preliminary findings, the Coast Guard said flaws in rig owner Transocean’s emergency training and equipment and a poor safety culture contributed to the April 20, 2010 explosion off Louisiana that killed 11 people. The blast led to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.