BP has delayed a test of a containment cap intended to halt the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico. The cap’s installation this week had raised hopes of a temporary halt to the gusher until the breached well could be plugged underground. But BP and federal officials now say the testing needs to be put on hold pending further analysis. On Tuesday, National Incident Commander Thad Allen discussed the challenges ahead even if the spill can be contained.

Adm. Thad Allen: “Even if we contain the well and even if the well is capped in mid-August, there is still a significant amount of oil out there, and the oil recovery and the impacts of this oil will probably extend well into the fall in terms of oil coming to shore, tar balls, beach cleanup. And then we will be moving, of course, at that point with a natural resources damage assessment, trying to understand the long-term environmental and ecological impact of the event.”