N.C. leaders prepare for possible oil spill effects

While the BP oil spill leaks an estimated 35,000 to 100,000 barrels a day, people in North Carolina are preparing for possible effects it might have on the state’s coastline.

Experts expect the damage to the state’s coast to be minimal, but the spill has entered the state’s politics.

“It will probably just be a nuisance and not much of an environmental consequence to North Carolina,” said Rick Luettich, director of UNC’s Institute of Marine Science.

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue issued a statement last week saying the state will issue a full emergency response if oil does make its way to the coast.

The N.C. General Assembly is debating a bill created in the wake of the spill that would protect the state’s shoreline, update the laws on offshore drilling and remove the cap on how much in damages people can claim were caused by the oil spill.

N.C. Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the bill will remove the $75 million federal cap on damage liability claims and will update the law regarding offshore drilling without entirely banning it.

This would rewrite requirements for an offshore drilling permit and help plan for how to handle a spill.

“It’s a tragedy to watch this unfold,” Harrison said. “We are right behind the Gulf in rich resources, so we’d have a lot at stake if we had a similar spill.”

Harrison said the bill has faced little opposition, but the spill created a political firestorm in U.S. politics.

Tuesday’s Democratic Senate runoff winner, N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and her opponent, Cal Cunningham, both took shots at U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

N.C. Democratic Party spokesman Mark Giangreco said both candidates opposed offshore drilling, and pointed to Burr’s track record of supporting oil companies and accepting their campaign dollars.

“Everybody right now is focused on cleaning up this spill, but there will be a time to discuss the issue of offshore drilling,” Giangreco said.

“For Richard Burr to continue to stand up for big oil companies I think shows that he has been a part of the special interest crowd in Washington for too long.”

In his blog, Burr said that he remains focused on cleaning up the spill and understanding what went wrong to prevent another disaster from occurring and that he’s committed to protecting the N.C. coast.

While the politics will carry on into November’s elections, North Carolinians are bracing for the effects it will have on the state economy.

The state’s fishing industry has seen changes in demand since the oil has ruined the Gulf seafood market.

“(The spill) has had the effect of raising the price of some seafood … so that is definitely to the advantage of fishers here,” said Scott Crosson, socioeconomic program manager at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, adding that they can’t match the high volume of output they previously counted on from the Gulf.

The tourism industry looks to educate potential travelers who might be concerned that the spill could ruin their beach vacation.

Lynn Minges, assistant secretary of tourism, marketing and global branding for the N.C. Department of Commerce, said the state’s tourism industry makes $1.3 billion between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

“We want to reassure people it’s fine to come to the coast, and we’re encouraging folks to go ahead and make those plans,” Minges said.

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu