Threat to FL beaches as Cuba drills for oil, ‘US Coast Guard is terrified’

A Chinese-built drilling rig known as Scarabeo 9 is seen off the coast of Havana. Spanish oil company Repsol YPF has begun drilling the first well in Cuba's long-awaited exploration of offshore oilfields.(DESMOND BOYLAN/REUTERS)

The Washington Post reports that as energy companies from Spain, Russia and Malaysia line up to drill for oil in Cuban waters 60 miles from the Florida Keys, U.S. agencies are struggling to cobble together emergency plans to protect fragile reefs, sandy beaches and a multibillion-dollar tourism industry in the event of a spill. … Click here to read more

March 4, 2012 at 11:57 am | Tags: , , , | Section: Health, Local Government, State