Please respond with thoughts, concerns or questions. between 50 to 80 words.

Reasons for not drilling in these locations is as simple as avoiding another major oil spill. In addition, other chemical and toxic substances come up when oil is recovered from the ocean floor. These chemicals and toxins are releases back into the ocean and can cause harm the marine life. I live in south Alabama and remember the full effects of the BP oil spill. People think the oil has been cleaned up and there is no more evidence of the spill, but simply is not true. Oil still washes up on the shore from time to time and the marine life is still not fully back to normal.

The positive reasons for offshore drilling in these areas is that it helps America become independent of other counties for oil and it supplies local jobs.

I see both sides to the argument. I feel that there is more that can be done to help prevent spills from happening, but allowing the United States freedom from other countries is a good thing.