On the 7th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Tampa Bay representatives and experts join U.S. Rep. Castor to highlight Trump cuts that take aim at Florida’s environment

Media Contacts
Jennifer Rubiello

TAMPA, Fla. — On the 7 year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Tampa Councilmembers Harry Cohen and Guido Maniscalco, St. Petersburg Councilmember Steve Kornell, USF College of Marine Science Professor David Hollander, Florida Sierra Club Director Frank Jackalone, Environment Florida State Director Jennifer Rubiello and Tampa Audobon Society Coordinator Doug DeNeve joined U.S. Representative Kathy Castor to highlight how President Trump’s proposed budget threatens Florida’s economy, jobs and environment.

Photo Credit: Marcia Mejia, Office of U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor

The BP Deepwater Horizon blowout took a massive toll on the Gulf Coast’s environment, wildlife and communities. For three months after the initial explosion, millions of gallons of crude oil and thousands of tons of methane spewed from the sea floor. Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured. 

Jennifer Rubiello, Environment Florida state director, issued the following statement:

“Today’s 7-year anniversary of the BP Deep water Horizon disaster is a solemn reminder of the threats offshore drilling poses not only to our coastal communities, but also to the quality of our water. Clean water is vital to our ecology, our health, and our quality of life. Here in Tampa Bay, we depend on our rivers and streams for fishing, swimming, and boating. Unfortunately, President Trump’s proposed budget is dirty, dangerous and fails to protect our waters.

Slashing the Environmental Protection Agency’s overall budget by almost a third, for example, means the agency cannot adequately enforce our bedrock environmental laws like the Clean Water Act. The proposed cuts would lay off thousands of workers and reduce the enforcement division, which includes the very people tasked with ensuring that states comply with laws like the Clean Water Act that protect our drinking water. These workers are the ones that step in when the state refuses to comply.

The budget fails to address the Flint water crisis and dozens of other lead in drinking water disasters and also cuts funding for Everglades restoration. As we’ve seen over the last few years, Everglades restoration is key to keeping Florida’s waters and beaches clean and thriving for generations to come.

We’re grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Castor who is standing up for Florida’s environment. We call on the rest of Florida’s congressional delegation to reject the administration’s cuts. America’s water, our air and our health come in dead last in this so-called “America First” budget. It’s not the future our families or the planet deserve.”