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Offshore Drilling Fears Unjustified

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By JOHNNIE BYRD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 17, 2008

The July 1 The Tampa Tribune editorial entitled "Floridians Should Not Be Panicked Into Sacrificing Their Coast" shows the Tribune's true elitist, anti-fossil fuel, "protect Kathy Castor at all costs" colors. In essence, the Tribune is firmly behind the Nancy Pelosi mantra that, "We can't drill our way out of the problem" - whatever that means.

Thank goodness, two out of three Floridians know better.

The Tribune cites the Houston Chronicle as authority. A thorough reading of the Chronicles' story actually proves that any oil spills from Katrina were from inshore, not offshore sources.

The Tribune's quote that the Katrina spills was among "the worst" in history is just hype attempting to do what the title to the editorial disclaims.

As for oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico, Capt. Frank Paskewich, federal on-scene coordinator for the Coast Guard, said the Coast Guard has fielded no reports of offshore spills there, though leaks could spring when the thousands of oil platforms and hundreds of miles of pipeline are restarted. Paskewich dismissed suggestions by an environmental advocacy group that satellite photos showed some 7,000 square miles of oil floating in the Gulf, saying numerous flyovers revealed only minor sheening.

The official technical report by the U.S. Minerals Management Service regarding "Pipeline Damage Assessment From Hurricanes Katrina And Rita In The Gulf Of Mexico," states that: "The vast majority of GOM offshore pipelines performed well during the passage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Public and personnel safety experience with respect to the offshore pipeline operations has been excellent. ...The impact to the environment has been minimal in hurricane events, primarily due to the design features, and industry practices intended for protection of life that are also focused on minimizing releases to the environment .... While cleanup was required, the volume of oil spilled and impacts to shore from the offshore infrastructure were categorized as minor."

Johnnie Byrd is a Plant City lawyer and former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

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