Offshore drilling is an inherently risky activity which directly threatens marine life, fisheries, and coastal economies.
The Presidential Oil Spill Commission recently reported the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was not an accident, but rather a systemic failure in industry and government.
Florida’s coasts provide billions of dollars through recreation, tourism, and healthy seafood. Jobs, coastlines, economy and healthy standards of living are at stake if another drilling accident were to occur.
The Obama administration recently announced the Atlantic coast, the Pacific coast, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico would be protected from offshore drilling in the upcoming five year leasing plan.
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2011.