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Sarasota News Leader MORE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION EXPECTED IN THE GULF To the Editor OPINION November 23, 2012 The true costs of oil production and explora- tion become clearer every day. As the pace of growth in offshore production increases, the cycle of death and destruction sadly seems to be keeping pace. More than two and a half years after the Deep- water Horizon disaster, we have yet to see any real change. I would argue the risks are great- er today. Since the drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico was lifted in the fall of 2010, the U.S. has gone into high gear, selling off millions of square miles of the Gulf to explo- ration and development. Oil production has rocketed past 2010 levels, expecting to reach record highs in 2013. Safety measures by the oil industry and reg- ulation by government sadly lag behind the rush to drill, placing workers, the environment and coastal communities at increasing risk. The day after a controversial settlement was announced that would relieve BP of further liability for most of the crimes committed related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, we are reminded that a big payout by one of the richest corporations in the world is not enough to make a significant difference. It is certainly inadequate for the survivors and families of workers who are killed and injured by negligence, and in the case of the Deepwa- ter Horizon, as recompense for criminal acts. It is not enough for the communities that rely on a healthy gulf. Page 49 We don't yet know the causes of this tragic loss of life, and we have too little informa- tion about any environmental impacts. But one thing that last week's Justice Department settlement with BP brings to light is that cor- porations that callously disregard the law, re- sulting in injury to human health and the en- vironment, will be convicted of felony crimes. The collateral consequences of such a con- viction can include being disqualified from contracting with the U.S. and being excluded from certain benefits and privileges granted to other corporations. Accordingly, the sen- tencing judge and the U.S. should consider terminating or limiting contracts or subsidies to BP and other felonious corporations, par- ticularly in the Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic and other sensitive areas. Black Elk Energy, the owner of the ill-fated platform that will now contribute to the grim statistics of tragedy in the gulf, was recently named one of the fastest-growing privately held companies, with an impressive three year sales growth of 2,510 percent. Black Elk was racing to drill the first of 23 new wells in the Gulf of Mexico. If the evidence shows that in its race to profit, Black Elk, like BP, broke the law, it should be prohibited from both explo- ration and production in waters of the United States. Justin Bloom Sarasota facebook.com/suncoastkeeper