In April 2010, the Deep water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused the largest oil spill in history, at an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil. Initial efforts to cap the well were declared successful; however, subsequent independent reports of continued oil leaks were ignored by BP (British Petroleum) and the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) until it was verified a month later. Did employees in BP and NOAA behave ethically in ignoring the reports?