Attorney General Issues Statement on Oil Spill Approaching Florida's Coastline
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued the following statement on the British Petroleum oil spill approaching Florida’s coastline:
"The British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico presents a clear and present danger to our coastline, our environment, and our economy. With the damaged well leaking as much as 200,000 gallons a day, we must move as rapidly as possible to protect our shores.
“On Sunday, at the invitation of Alabama Attorney General Troy King, I will join the Attorneys General from Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi in Mobile, Alabama to discuss the shared impacts to the Southeast United States and explore legal options. Currently, my office is also working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other state and federal agencies to ensure we do everything possible to protect our delicate coastal ecosystems and recoup costs to taxpayers.
“This mishap is an unfortunate example of why drilling threatens our state’s most precious resources – our pristine beaches, our vast wetlands, and countless other environmental treasures. Until technology advances, we must continue to be extraordinarily cautious with our consideration of any proposal that would further jeopardize our beaches and our environment for future generations.”
