Monday letters: Who is Duncan looking out for?

Thank you for covering offshore oil exploration, drilling and production (“Officials at odds over offshore drilling in S.C.,” March 28). The comments by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan touting such an enterprise have been interesting.

Does Mr. Duncan understand that the United States has surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia as a producer of oil and gas? Does he understand that many oil-industry jobs are migratory? Does he understand that currently there is no oil-revenue sharing for states? And does he understand how risky drilling is for existing industries such as tourism, recreation and fishing?

I worked for Georgia Congressman Ben Jones. Ben was on the Water Resources Subcommittee of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. He was in office when the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil onto a pristine Alaskan coast. Ben’s subcommittee oversaw the clean-up. Twenty-six years later, the coast is still not totally clear of oil. Half the animal species have not recovered. The after-action report blamed human error and fatigue. Regardless of advances in technology, if humans are involved, there will be accidents.

I’m left wondering who Mr. Duncan represents. According to the Open Secrets Center for Responsive Politics, between 2009 and 2014 he received $113,400 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry.

Sometimes the question is the question.

Pawleys Island

This story was originally published May 3, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Monday letters: Who is Duncan looking out for?."