Offshore Drilling Faces New Skepticism

An offshore drilling platform.

The explosion and collapse of an oil rig in the off Louisiana’s coastline has U.S. Senator Bill Nelson calling for a congressional investigation. And, it’s raised skepticism about plans to expand offshore drilling but not necessarily changed attitudes about the president’s policy.

The offshore drilling question splits more than state residents – it divides families too.

Robert DiMasi is a physician in Clearwater. He brought his children and brother – who is visiting from Ohio - for a day at the beach. The oil rig explosion has deepened his skepticism of offshore drilling.

“It’s a matter of weighting the risk versus benefit. As far as Floridians go, I don’t see that we’re personally going to benefit greatly from this as far as a reduction in gas prices for example,” Robert DiMasi said. “I really question the decision to do the offshore drilling.”

His brother, Brian DiMasi, countered, “Simply because there was an accident on a platform doesn’t mean that the concept of offshore drilling is bad. We don’t outlaw cars because of car accidents or recalls.”

He’s an attorney living in the Dublin area of Columbus Ohio, who sees it as two separate issues.

“One should we drill offshore and I think the answer is yes. We have relied on foreign oil, we have been hostage figuratively from offshore oil and the cost of gasoline and the price is going up,” Brian DiMasi said. “The second issue is having to do with the accident. If we need to inspect the platforms, make them safe and really make sure they’re fit for their purpose. I think it’s reactionary and really emotionally un-intellectual to say because there was an accident therefore we shouldn’t drill.”

But, brother Robert was quick to point out his brother doesn’t live in Florida where the economy is closely tied to tourism and the state’s white sandy beaches. Brother Brian said that should be weighed against the impact the nation suffers “is more of a direct impact for Floridians if there is an accident but it impacts the entire country “when we pay $4 a gallon for gasoline.”

StarLite Cruises Captain Mark Eaton operates sightseeing tours and dinner boats out of Clearwater Beach and John’s Pass. His livelihood depends on the Gulf’s aqua-green waters attracting tourists. Eaton is also an avid fisherman.

“Originally I wasn’t against drilling in the Gulf as long as the oil rigs were 10 miles out or further so we couldn’t see them from the shoreline,” Eaton said. “Of course in light of the recent situation with the oil rig exploding, maybe it’s not quite as safe as they’d like you to believe that it is.”

But just like Floridians and the DiMasi brothers – maritime captains are split over the drilling issue. Some like Eaton depend on tourism. But other captains run workers and supplies to offshore oil rigs.

“If they start drilling over here, I’m not going to tell you that I’m not going to go try to find a job running crew boats out to the oil rigs too because there’s a lot of money to be made,” Eaton said.