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House Committee Hears Florida Offshore Drilling Bill While Louisiana Continues Clean-Up Of Major Oil Spill In Gulf

TALLAHASSEE – As Louisiana struggles to clean up a large offshore oil rig pipeline spill,* The House Select Committee on Strategic & Economic Planning took up for the first time this session a bill that would open Florida state waters to oil drilling.

Progress Florida executive director Mark Ferrulo today released the following statement regarding incoming Speaker Dean Cannon’s (R-Winter Park) proposed legislation:

“Introducing a bill to allow oil drilling in our near shore waters in the midst of Louisiana’s ongoing oil spill clean-up is a twisted bit of irony that should be lost on no one, least of all Dean Cannon and other legislators charged with protecting Florida’s economy and environment.

“Although some elected officials have bought into Big Oil’s claim that little or no risk is associated with offshore oil drilling, we need only look to Louisiana, where right now crews are attempting to clean up an 18,000 gallon crude oil spill that has ravaged one fifth of an entire national wildlife refuge 1.

“As this latest Gulf oil spill tragically illustrates, it’s not a matter of if, but when, such a spill will happen along Florida’s coast if Dean Cannon gets his way.

“Instead of acting on behalf of a shadowy group of wealthy Texas oilmen, Rep. Cannon and his colleagues should listen to the 55 cities, counties, local chambers and other local agencies around our state that have passed resolutions opposing efforts to open Florida's world famous coastline to oil and gas drilling.**

Note: The ruptured pipeline in Louisiana originates from an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico and terminates at the Empire Pipeline Terminal according to the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s office.

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