USA Today column by Senator Bill Nelson

Halt
offshore
exploration


By Bill Nelson

"For a successful technology, reality must take
precedence over public relations, for nature cannot
be fooled."

OUR VIEW: Don't use oil spill as excuse to deep-six
domestic drilling

That's what Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard
Feynman said in 1986. Judging by recent events, it's
more true today than ever.

The failure of the Deepwater Horizon test well in the
Gulf of Mexico is a horrible tragedy. But hopefully,
it will be something from which we gain wisdom.

We still don't know how bad it will be, but some
scientists say the Gulf loop currents could take this
oil to the Florida Keys, and then to the southeast
part of the state.

BP's CEO, Tony Hayward, acknowledged to me that
economic damages will exceed the current $75
million cap on liability for drilling accidents. So I've
joined with Sens. Robert Menendez and Frank
Lautenberg of New Jersey to introduce legislation to
raise that cap to $10 billion. I've also joined with
Rep. Kendrick Meek of Florida in calling for
moratoria on offshore oil exploration and drilling in
new areas. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar likely will
adopt changes I and others have asked for
regarding the regulators who inspect oil rigs,
investigate oil companies and enforce safety
regulations.

Meantime, the scope of this crisis in the Gulf should
prompt the president and all lawmakers to re-
examine Big Oil's safety claims and call for a halt to
the industry's push for drilling in new offshore
areas.

Over the past four decades, I've fought the
industry's immensely powerful lobby in Washington
to keep oil rigs away from Florida and other coastal
states. I've argued that a big spill could not only
harm Florida's tourism-driven economy and unique
environment, but also usurp the country's last major
military training and testing range in the eastern
Gulf.

Whether offshore drilling ever becomes safer, there
just isn't enough oil in the eastern Gulf or along
most of the Atlantic seaboard to justify the
enormous risks from a blowout, spill or shipping
accident, like the Exxon Valdez.

On the broader energy issue, America must lessen
its reliance on foreign oil. But there's no need to
expand drilling into new areas. Oil and gas
companies right now have some 31 million acres
under lease in parts of the Gulf where they aren't
even drilling yet.

The ultimate answer to America's energy needs lies
not in oil, but in the rapid development of
alternative fuels.

And I think we can help pay for an accelerated
national energy program by ending the billions of
dollars in giveaways to Big Oil, by making sure it
pays all its taxes and royalties.

Bill Nelson, a Democrat, is the senior U.S. senator
from Florida.