MIAMI -- Gulf beaches from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle have been closed or slapped with health warnings nearly 10 times more often this summer than last because of oil from BP's massive deepwater leak, according to a report Wednesday by a national environmental group. While many beaches were spared, more than 2,200 closings, health advisories or notices were issued by state or local authorities through Tuesday because of oil from the nearly three-month-long spill. That compared with 237 closings and advisories in the same period last year, mainly due to bacteria or viruses in the water, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council's annual survey of beach water quality. The NRDC report said the oil spill affected 49 of 253 beach segments it monitors in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. Texas beaches haven't had any advisories or closings so far. Tar balls, oil sheen, globs of crude and petroleum smells have marred some beaches in the stretch since the disaster began with an April 20 drill rig explosion that killed 11 workers. BP finally capped the well July 15, a temporary measure until the gusher can be plugged underground, but government scientists estimate between 94 million and 184 million gallons of oil ...
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