Oil Disaster Threatens Florida's Environment and Economy
May 5, 2010
Since the explosion of BP's oil platform off the coast of Louisiana, thousands of gallons of oil have been spewing into the Gulf. This enormous and growing disaster is now the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The oil slick is beginning to reach shore and could devastate coastal environments -- and along with it, revenue from our tourism and seafood industries.
In Pensacola and other Panhandle communities, tourism revenues have finally begun to recover from Hurricane Ivan. Now, they are already taking a hit from the oil disaster and business owners expect the consequences to be long-lasting and substantial. Experts aren't sure where the oil slick will land or how extensive the damage will be -- 13 counties are already in a state of emergency and scrambling to prepare.
In the wake of the disaster, Rep. Dean Cannon, who will be Speaker of the Florida House beginning in November, and Senator Mike Haridopolos, scheduled to take over as President of the Florida Senate, have now dropped their proposal to allow drilling in state waters 3 to 10 miles off our beaches.
Senator Bill Nelson has reversed his support for President Obama's plan to allow new Gulf drilling and has filed legislation to stop the administration from doing so.
But with debate beginning on the Senate energy bill as early as next week, the junior Senator from Florida, Senator George LeMieux has not said that he will oppose a measure that includes new drilling.
Take Action
Tell Sen. LeMieux To Oppose New Drilling
While Sen. LeMieux has been loudly demanding clean-up of the BP spill, he hasn't indicated that he's changed his mind about supporting new drilling in the Gulf. With Senate debate on an energy bill beginning soon, tell Sen. LeMieux that you expect him to oppose any measure that would allow new Gulf drilling. More
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May 4, 2010 St. Pete Times:
Florida DEP official: 'The magnitude of this spill is daunting'
The St. Pete Times reports: "With an oil slick and tar balls just 50 miles offshore, Florida's top environmental official and attorney general say the state is bracing for pollution and damage to hit the state's beaches and its oyster, bait and sport fisheries." More
May 4, 2010 Orlando Sentinel:
Oil spill already hurting Panhandle's tourist-based economy
Orlando Sentinel report: "The huge oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico remained well away from Florida's Panhandle on Monday, but the region's tourism-based economy already is taking a hit that many fear will be worse than Hurricane Ivan in 2004 or the recent global recession." More
May 1, 2010 Palm Beach Post:
Gulf oil spill could be disastrous for Florida economy
Palm Beach Post reports: "If there's one thing Florida's battered economy doesn't need, it's a massive oil spill and the threat of tar balls washing up on beaches. State tourism officials fret that the still-growing slick in the Gulf of Mexico could inflict lasting financial damage. 'This is one thing that could hurt more than a recession, more than four hurricanes coming into Florida in one season,' said Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and a member of the board of Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing arm. 'This could have lingering, disastrous implications.'" More
The Push for New Oil Drilling Off Florida's Coast
Learn all about the history of this issue and find out all the reasons new Gulf drilling is bad policy. This wasn't a good idea even before BP's rig starting gushing oil! More