KILL DEVIL HILLS -- It's been more than a year since the April 2009 hearing at which the federal Minerals Management Service took public comments on expanding petroleum exploration off the East Coast. Every state from New Jersey north voiced opposition, but not a single representative from North Carolina bothered to attend - much less stand up and protect their coastal constituency.
Since then, the economic arguments against drilling have not diminished. Our state's beaches still generate as much money every two years -- $24 billion -- as the Committee on Natural Resources claims North Carolina could potentially yield in offshore oil and gas revenue sharing after three or four decades. And in terms of jobs, Dare County's 11,500 tourism jobs alone far exceed the 6,500 the American Petroleum Industry promises the state.
What's no longer valid, however, is the argument that offshore petroleum poses no risk to our existing tourism and fishing industries.
The Deepwater Horizon disaster has been spewing oil in the Gulf of Mexico for more than two months. Already, Alabama's tourism numbers are down 50 percent; and a University of Central Florida study shows that the catastrophe could ultimately end up costing the Sunshine State 195,000 jobs and $10.9 billion in spending.
As a result, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, formerly a proponent, now firmly opposes offshore drilling. Part of it is self-interest, but his switch also reflects a changing political landscape. (According to the Pew Research Center, last February 63 percent of Americans were for offshore drilling; today, 52 percent oppose it.)
Despite recent legislative efforts to hold BP accountable for the current crisis, North Carolina's leaders remain suspiciously silent when it comes to protecting our coast's long-term future. And when they do speak, few if any say "oil and water don't mix."
For U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, offshore drilling remains an issue of states' rights. I'm sure Florida's citizens would argue that includes the right to be protected from neighboring states' potentially harmful decisions.
U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan repeats the White House's vague commitment to a "comprehensive energy policy."
Gov. Beverly Perdue - who was opposed to drilling as recently as 2008 - will now support a drilling plan where companies are fully responsible full damages and "the people of North Carolina - not just the big oil companies - share in the profits."
Of course, all put the same caveat at the very front: that any offshore drilling must be "safe." But once you eliminate such a condition as completely impossible - which the BP accident surely does - don't you eliminate the argument for drilling once and for all?
For the past year, I've been saying North Carolina's pro-drilling decision-makers should visit Galveston, Texas, to witness the industry's long-term effects firsthand. I now submit that they must also visit Gulf Shores, Ala., to fully understand the immediate impact.
Having just returned, I can say the ocean couldn't be any more toxic. The smell any more repulsive. The beaches any more desolate (except for cleanup crews and skimming boats). And the politicians couldn't be any more puzzled about how to attack a problem - they can't even attack its source.
At a press conference, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby took turns begging people to come visit. Unable to rely on the beach as a lure, they instead described uncrowded restaurants and empty water parks -- miserable selling points.
Yet, when asked if he would recommend that East Coast governors take the necessary steps to guarantee that they never face a similar crisis, Riley defended the very industry that was crippling coastal businesses.
I never got a clear answer. Maybe he really believes offshore drilling will achieve energy independence for America - even as we consume 25 percent of the oil with just 3 percent of the planet's reserves. But if offshore drilling occurs off North Carolina, it will use the same deepwater technology that's devastating the Gulf.
And when some never-considered complication leaves our coastline in shambles, I'd bet whoever gets stuck cleaning up the mess will at least secretly wish that his or her predecessors had the foresight and backbone to protect all our thriving, evergreen coastal economies, instead of undermining them with a single outside interest that risks it all.
It's not too late for North Carolina to do just that. Today, the public comment period concerning offshore leases for 2012 to 2017 is ending. I urge every single legislator to do what they failed to do last year: to speak out in opposition and stand up for our state's coastal economies, ecology and way of life. Otherwise, one day we'll face the same catastrophe. And just like Alabama, we'll have no one but ourselves to blame.
A longtime editor for Surfing Magazine, Matt Walker has also contributed to The Los Angeles Times, OC Weekly and the Outer Banks Sentinel.
