Program examines effects of oil spill

Column

One year after the capping of the massive BP oil leak, recovery — economic and psychological — is ongoing and questions remain about the future of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

At 8 p.m. tonight, on the anniversary of the end of the gusher, Tampa PBS outlets WUSF, Channel 16, and WEDU, Channel 3, will simultaneously air a one-hour special "GulfWatch: One Year Later."

It examines how the spill continues to affect Florida and what progress is being made in the recovery.

On April 20, 2010, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf killed 11 workers and started one of the worst environmental catastrophes in U.S. history.

For months, as much as 50,000 gallons of oil gushed out each day, greatly impacting the seafood industry, environment, fish and wildlife, tourism, and the lives of coastal residents in the states that border the Gulf.

Even though the oil spill aftermath has ceased to be in the headlines, PBS and NPR outlets in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama have continued to report on the impact.

You can find these stories on the GulfWatch website at http://video.wedu.org/feature/205 and on WUSF's website at www.wusf.usf.edu.

Tonight's jointly produced TV special includes interviews with some of Florida's top scientists involved in measuring the effects of the spill.

It also looks at how former Gov. Charlie Crist and current Gov. Rick Scott responded to the spill.

Another segment looks at how coastal businesses have suffered. Patricia Hubbard, CEO of the Friendly Fishermen Restaurant, Hub's Tavern and Hubbard's Marina on Johns Pass, tells of how the oil spill kept tourists away and put the family business into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

She says that the anxiety during the leak "was like someone had died."

"We're born and raised here," she says, adding that watching oil spew day after day turned her fear into rage. Other beach business owners also talk about the financial losses.

Another segment covers University of South Florida and Florida State University scientists who studied the leak from aboard USF's research vessel and discovered BP was vastly underreporting the amount of leakage and the amount of potential toxic damage.

A panel of experts, moderated by Bay News 9 anchor Al Ruechel, will discuss issues raised by the leak. Included is a representative of the Florida Petroleum Council and professors of governmental affairs, biological oceanography and marine science. Bright House will offer the program on demand following the premiere.

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