Experts, officials to testify on Cuba oil drilling

By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ | The Associated Press
Published: January 30, 2012
Updated: January 30, 2012 - 6:03 AM

» Comments | Post a Comment

MIAMI --

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, experts and U.S. officials will testify on the risk of oil drilling off the coast of Cuba, and whether the U.S. is prepared for any possible spill.

Those expected to speak Monday at the satellite congressional sub-committee hearing in Sunny Isles, just north of Miami Beach, include U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Also on the list, fellow South Florida Cuban-American U.S. Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and David Rivera. They will discuss possible impacts of the deep-water oil drilling Cuba is seeking to begin.

Ros-Lehtinen wants to deny U.S. visas to anyone helping the Cuban government advance its oil drilling plans.

Florida University Professor John Proni says spills could reach U.S. coastal waters, seriously damaging the nation's ecology and economy.