STATE OF FLORIDA (CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ALEX SINK May 27, 2010 The Honorable Michael Sole Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Florida Department of Environmental Protection 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 Dear Secretary Sole: ‘We are now in the second month of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I continue to hear the concern from local business owners and environmental groups around the state, especially those in Northwest Florida, about the negative economic impacts from the spill, as well as the potentially disastrous impacts to our aquatic, near-shore and beach environments, Today Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana announced that more than 100 miles of Louisiana’s shoreline had been damaged by the oil slick. Clearly, in the aftermath of the oil spill and as it became evident that the Gulf currents and weather were pushing the oil towards Louisiana’s coast, officials there have tried to prepare and to employ innovative solutions to minimize the damaging impacts on this sensitive ecosystem, Governor Jindal has been vocal in pressing the federal government to more quickly approve innovative plans to avoid catastrophic damage. During our most recent Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, May 25, | asked that you deploy a team of scientists and experts to Louisiana with the goal of leaming first-hand and on-the-ground from the responders there. Florida is sure to benefit from the lessons learned and the ideas that have or have not been successful in keeping the oil slick and byproducts from chemical dispersants from damaging our coastlines. would be very interested in what such a team under your leadership would observe and learn from the ‘methods being employed in Louisiana. We must do everything possible to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best, and there is no better way to learn than from those who have had recent experiences. I thank you for paying such close attention to this event. | look forward to finding out the results this trip may uncover. Sincerely, hha, Sok Alex Sink DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES THE Caprrou, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0301 + (850) 413-2850 + TELECOPIER (850) 413.2950