Containment boom is seen placed on the beach as efforts to clean the beach from effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill stopped due to bad weather created by Tropical Storm Alex in Elmer's Island, Louisiana. BP scaled back some oil spill clean-up efforts Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Alex, which approached hurricane strength as it barreled north through the Gulf of Mexico. AFP / Getty Images / Joe RaedleWASHINGTON – The United States is accepting help from 12 countries and international organizations  in dealing with the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. is working out the particulars of the help that’s been accepted. The identities of all 12 countries and international organizations were not immediately announced. One country was cited in the State Department statement — Japan, which is providing two high-speed skimmers and fire containment boom. More than 30 countries and international organizations have offered to help with the spill. The State Department hasn’t indicated why some offers have been accepted and others have not.

US accepts international assistance for Gulf spill