TREASURE ISLAND|MADEIRA BEACH ­­— The Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce, at its June 19 Board meeting, passed Resolution 2018-06 opposing offshore drilling and urging the United States government to refrain from oil drilling and exploration along Florida’s Atlantic coast and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded on April 20, 2010. The Chamber’s resolution opposing offshore drilling seeks to avoid future catastrophes.

“Our ecosystem is fragile,” pointed out Board Chairman Joe Dise (Dise Wealth Management) following the meeting, “and our state’s Gulf coast felt the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 for years following the incident. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama bore the brunt of that spill, but Florida’s coastline, from the panhandle south to Tampa Bay, also suffered damage to our beaches, our businesses, and our marine life. We cannot risk another such occurrence.”

In its resolution, the Chamber noted,

“… it is our belief that despite technological advances in oil rig drilling technology, there is no positive assurance that catastrophic damage to our coastline, beaches, plant and fish life could be avoided during normal operating conditions or that sufficient inspections and controls are in place to maintain the safe operations of such oil drilling platforms and pipelines.”

The resolution will be forwarded to the United States Department of the Interior, adding this coastal Chamber’s voice to others opposing offshore drilling and exploration. Copies will be sent to Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (Pinellas County’s Convention and Visitors’ Bureau), the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. It is located at 245 – 107th Avenue, Treasure Island, FL. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Contact by calling 727-360-4121 or sending email to news@islandneighborschamber.org.