Officials have said that U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder plans to visit areas affected by the gulf oil spill Tuesday and meet with state attorneys generals.

The Justice Department was looking at the circumstances leading up to the April explosion and spill, but has shied away from saying the department is conducting an investigation, The White House has said.

The department, however, said Holder plans to meet with U. S. prosecutors as well as state attorneys general from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

BP officials, meanwhile, said the oil company could try to cap the monster Gulf of Mexico oil spill this week.

All other attempts, including a "top kill" method of blocking the leak, have failed to contain the spilling of millions of gallons of oil into the gulf from a Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded April 20 and sank, killing 11 rig workers.

CNN has reported that BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward said on Sunday that the company would increase its efforts to stop the flow and protect the coastline.

Hayward said, "As far as I'm concerned, a cup of oil on the beach is a failure."

Hayward apologized for the spill and the "massive disruption" it has caused the Gulf Coast.

Hayward also said, "There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back."

CNN reported on Monday that shrimper John Wutsell Jr. sought a temporary restraining order in federal court against BP, asking it be kept from "altering, testing or destroying clothing or any other evidence or potential evidence" when workers become ill after working on cleanup efforts.

BP did not comment on the restraining order or on allegations that BP was confiscating clothing. (With Inputs from Agencies)