Environmental Defense Decries Senate Action On Florida Offshore Drilling

Today’s U.S. Senate failure to delay offshore oil and gas drilling in new areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico will threaten economically important marine life and Florida’s pristine beaches, according to Environmental Defense. Today’s Senate rejection of an amendment offered by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) could allow the Interior Department to lease 1.5 million acres, known as Lease Sale 181, to the oil industry. The House of Representatives recently voted to delay the sale, however, so an upcoming House-Senate Conference Committee will ultimately determine the fate of the Eastern Gulf.

“Opening a new 1.5 million acre swath of the Eastern Gulf to offshore drilling would be an American tragedy,” said Environmental Defense marine conservation advocate Richard Charter. “Millions treasure the white sand beaches of Florida’s Panhandle and Gulf Coast and visitors to these areas support much of the Florida economy.”

“It does not make economic or environmental sense to gamble with America’s natural heritage,” said Charter. “Drilling poses an unacceptable level of risk to two of Florida’s most important economic sectors, fishing and coastal tourism.”

Today’s vote defeating the Nelson amendment came as the Senate considered the appropriations bill for the Department of Interior for fiscal year 2002. Still to be announced by the Bush administration is an upcoming White House decision about whether or not to permit offshore production platforms to be constructed by Chevron on active offshore leases on Destin Dome, very close to the Florida Panhandle.