Even as a foul mix of crude and marine fuel continues to spew forth from the wreckage site of the Deepwater Horizons, the Obama Administration remains unrepentant about their recent decision to allow new offshore drilling and exploration off the East, Gulf and Alaskan coastlines.
Robert Gibbs, Mr Obama’s White House spokesman, told reporters that the accident didn’t change Mr Obama’s commitment to offshore drilling and exploration. “I don’t think it opens up a new series of questions” on the process, Mr Gibbs said, predicting that it “won’t be the last time” there would be a spill.
One can't help but wonder, what the threshold will be for both the Obama Administration and the Drill Baby, Drill crowd to realize that offshore drilling is not an acceptable answer to our nation's energy woes.
Will it take a spill along the Florida coastline, effectively killing tourism, the state's principle economic driver?
Will it take another event like the Exxon Valdez in Alaska's environmentally sensitive north slope to make us realize the cost for our foolishness?
We've seen the loss of two major drilling platforms in less then six months.
If not now, when?
What will it take?
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1 comment:
Just read the Minerals Management Service's (US Gov't agency) report on damage to underwater oil & gas pipelines. There was a total of 124 oil spills (page 27). Url is below. Or read the Jan 20th blog of "Not the Answer" - it has article link. Hurricanes, accidents, and the associated crude oil spills are a fact of life in the Gulf of Mexico. No drilling off Florida !!!
Best,
John Jelks
http://www.mms.gov/tarprojects/581/44814183_MMS_Katrina_Rita_PL_Final%20Report%20Rev1.pdf
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