this deep. >> for louisiana, this is a marathon not a sprint. capping the leak, cleaning up the oil and repairing the damage to the wetlands. >> reporter: a sheen of thin oil has been spotted around louisiana's barrier island; specifically, the chandelier islands. an area that can only be reached by boat. each day the oil is inching closer to back water and canals inland where the fish spawn and shrimp bed. earlier this week, work began on permanent solution, involving drilling a second relief well 18,000 feet below the seabed but that could take up to three months. >> bret: kris gutierrez live in venice, louisiana, thanks. as president obama and his team try to stay ahead of the gulf spill, questions are being raised about the past and present relationship between oil industry executives and the administration. senior white house correspondent major garrett gets through the specifics. >> reporter: before the