Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Threatens Coasts of Four US States VOA News 01 May 2010 Dr. Erica Miller (L) and Danene Birtell with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research work to help a Northern Gannet bird covered in oil at a facility in Fort Jackson, La., 30 Apr 2010 Photo: AP Dr. Erica Miller (L) and Danene Birtell with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research work to help a Northern Gannet bird covered in oil at a facility in Fort Jackson, La., 30 Apr 2010 Residents along the southern U.S. coast fear an environmental disaster is near as oil from a destroyed well approaches. About 800,000 liters of crude oil per day are gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, after an unexplained explosion April 20 sank an offshore oil rig. The oil has begun washing up on land in some coastal parts of