News

County awaits BP oil money

By Michael D. Bates | Hernando Today
Published: November 29, 2012

BROOKSVILLE - County Commissioner Wayne Dukes, representing Hernando County in its efforts to secure federal funding from the British Petroleum rig explosion, said he should have more details this week.

Dukes said he attended a recent meeting of the consortium of Gulf Coast counties when Gov. Rick Scott announced the addition of seven additional members. Dukes said there was some uncertainty whether they will be voting members or what role they will have in the money distribution.

The British Petroleum rig that exploded April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana discharged some 12,000-19,000 barrels of oil a day into the water.

The disaster threatened to stifle tourism in several coastal counties and jeopardize the livelihoods of charter boat operators, shrimpers and others.

The federal government leveled fines up to $20 billion against the petroleum company, and the consortium is tasked with figuring out how 23 counties affected by the spill will use the money.

Dukes said the amount of money Hernando County will get is undecided. The final determination, he said, will be calculated based on the impact of the spill on each community.

The money can be used to help with economic development or tourism.

Meanwhile, Pasco County officials learned they will receive a $250,000 grant from BP to create a new ad campaign promoting the county as an ecotourism destination.

The county's tourism development office is one of 33 Florida nonprofit groups picked to get shares of $43.7 million in BP funds to promote the Gulf Coast's tourism and seafood industries following the company's 2010 oil leak.

According to Pasco's grant application, the area's restaurant industry suffered because diners were afraid to order seafood from the Gulf. Although 2012 was a record year for tourism in the county, visits were down in the immediate aftermath of the leak.

"While Pasco lacks the beautiful beaches of the Panhandle and our southern neighbors, our natural coastline of mangroves and coastal marshes are attractors for ecotourism," the application reads. "We felt the impact on a slowdown in visitors coming to enjoy our ecotourism activities along the coast, such as boating and kayaking. In particular, our boat and fishing captains felt the decrease in tourists coming to Pasco."

Tampa Tribune Reporter Laura Kinsler contributed to this story.