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DRILLING POSES POTENTIAL THREAT TO FLORIDA SHORES
Congress poised to lift drilling ban off Florida's Gulf Coast
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VIEWS:11678
COMMENTS:107
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By:
Terry Gibson
September 1, 2008
You'd have to have been on an extended surf odyssey deep in the remote regions of Indo
not to have heard that Offshore Drilling has become the buzzword of the summer. It's been wrapping politics and fuel prices into a political frenzy of "somebody do something so I can make a surf trip upcoast without it costing 100 clams."
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Proponents argue the drilling is necessary to wean America off foreign oil dependence. Rigs off the Central Gulf also provide superb fishing, although it is not clear whether the manmade habitats support larger populations of fish or cause them to converge in one area where they are easy to locate and catch. Opponents rattle off a list of economic and environmental concerns. They say that since America has less than three percent of the world's supply of oil and gas we'll never be able to produce enough to affect prices in a global economy. Demands are so high abroad right now that it is more profitable to export crude than to process it for use domestically. So the idea that drilling in the eastern Gulf likely will make the run to Sebastian Inlet cheaper is probably unreasonable. The environmental concerns could also have serious economic repercussions. "No doubt that if Florida gets drilled by Congress, we start down a road of reduced water quality and rig debris, from oil barrels to tar balls, washing into surf breaks and onto beaches," said TJ Marshall, who's spearheading a group called Don't Rig Florida ( dontrigflorida.org). "I'm not just talking Gulf Coast and Panhandle beaches either, but the southeast Florida gems like South Beach and Reef Road. The loop current and Gulf Stream will bring it to us," added Marshall. Proponents say that the technology has improved considerably, that drilling is much safer and more environmentally sound than it was 30 years ago. But marine biologists are concerned that rigs would interrupt spawning and migration of valuable fish species including tarpon and mullet, which spawn on the shelf edge. It's disgusting to walk down the beach and get hot tar on your feet, towel, shoes, etc. I truly hope there's a better alternative to this than more drilling.
--Kelly Slater
Also, a significant body of scientific literature shows that small amounts of oil and toxic drilling muds got lifted into the Gulf Loop current and carried up the Florida east coast after traveling through what is now the Florida Key National Marine Sanctuary and Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve--right through North America's only living coral reef. A broad representation of Florida environmental groups is afraid that this decision will be made without cautious consideration of how it could affect 900,000 tourism jobs and Florida's $65 billion dollar tourism economy, which largely depends on clean water, healthy estuaries and reefs, and clean beaches. Despite all the objections, Marshall says it's a done deal unless folks start barking at their Congressman as well as getting Florida's coastal related businesses up in arms. Environment aside, politics has placed Florida and Florida alone in the crosshairs. Senator Saxby Chambliss from Georgia noted that the Alaska Wildlife Refuge and California were purposefully left out in order to find enough votes to give the measure a chance. According to Marshall, "The untold story is that every state is given the ability to opt out if they choose EXCEPT Florida. We get drilled." Before Slates, Cory, Shea, Ceej and Damo started surfing, drilling has been a hot button issue here. Many old timers remember the nasty tar on even the east coast beaches from the IXTOC spill in 1979. The 2nd largest oil spill ever; it spewed nearly 30 thousand barrels of oil a day into the Gulf for nine months. Kelly himself remembers some oil on the beach. "I remember as a kid there was a lot more tar," he said. " I'm not sure what happened between then and now, maybe stricter regulating of drilling. It's disgusting to walk down the beach and get hot tar on your feet, towel, shoes, etc. I truly hope there's a better alternative to this than more drilling. We must start to think long term and realistic. We all use and need the energy. We also have lots of sun in FL. Seems like a simple equation. The sun brings the tourism and should also provide a huge offset in energy in our state and the country as a whole. It's just another way to use our resource for ourselves instead of focusing it on our tourism." "We don't need to be developing energy sources that put Florida's most valuable economic assets at risk, including our beaches and reefs," agreed Ericka D'Avanzo, Florida Manager for the Surfrider Foundation. "The future of the state's economy depends on protecting and enhancing our natural resources, and on renewable energy research and development. That's the kind of clean business we need." Comments: (107) Add Your Comment
john 09/08/2008 01:38 PM
I would rather pay more for gas, drive less, and surf clean water longer then have problems like pollution and other crelated problems. Oil drilling here is just another short term solution itll just last a little longer than most. And I dont want to be kept from the water cause someone messed up and dropped a bunch of oil barrels in the water.
Chad 09/07/2008 03:26 PM
With Cal..
Jack 09/07/2008 08:31 AM
We should explore all forms of alternative energy. There is a major issue, however. They are not ready for prime time. Solar power is too expensive and inefficent. Wind power has issues too. Do you want hundreds of windmills off the shore of Florida? Probably not if you are against offshore oil rigs. Then where do these windmills get built? Inland? Then we have technology problems gettign to power to the cities. Drilling for more oil is a necessary solution for the next 20 years.
NTS 09/06/2008 09:12 AM
Instead of investing money in drilling, why don't we just tap into alaska. Or even better invest all that money into alt fuels. I'm in the military, oil isn't the only reason for the war people.
julian 09/05/2008 10:39 AM
ummmmmm. eh, nevermind.
Ed 09/05/2008 09:15 AM
Stop drilling? Stop driving, stop whinning, turn out the lights and stay home. Get it?
D-man 09/05/2008 08:28 AM
These comments are ridiculous, offshore drill will not decrease the amount you pay for gas. We are currently running at our countries refineries capacity. Just because you have the oil doesn't mean you can refine it. It would take another 30 years to build the infrastructure to refine all the additional oil we would obtain through offshore drilling... The U.S. uses 25% of the worlds oil and only 2% comes from the U.S. Do some research hippy or not we need to make a change! Do it for PTCs speedo!
Ashley 09/05/2008 06:11 AM
Drilling off the FL coast will not solve any of our current problems, because it will take approximately 10 years before we see any production if we did drill. Save Florida's coast and its tourism industry.
Steve 09/04/2008 10:42 PM
er- you must feel your argument is pretty weak to resort to name calling. Grow up kid and start to realize you are better than you think.
garrett rutz 09/04/2008 09:30 PM
ok listen its simple really...we drill here and we drill now, 700 million barrels of oil in three years will bring gas down to 2-250$ a gallon...what this will do is help bosst the economy so that our focus every weeek wont be on gas but now on alternative energy sources so this way it will help end our war on terror simply because the middle east will have nothing to provoke with...so YES drill baby drill!
Joe 09/04/2008 08:47 PM
the money you now give to oil companies goes overseas, new money would stay here and create jobs. if you ever lived in TX you'll realize how many rig workers surf what little surf TX can offer. do a little research on the environmental impact of those rigs too, being as impartial as you can, you might change your mind
garrett rutz 09/04/2008 01:54 PM
the plans simple drill here drill now, 10-15 years maximun...what it will do is drop gas prices back to $2- 250 a gallon and that will help the economy out because we wont have to focus most of our finances on gas...and while all this is happening we can then focus our energy on alternative energy sources and take the middle east by its balls!
Ralphster 09/04/2008 01:49 PM
this florida native says, lets drill. big suger,unresticted develepment and bogus beach renoursment projects have already ruined our state.
PJ 09/04/2008 12:56 PM
This is to Jonathan.
The US would own the entire continent of Europe in a war.
Albee 09/04/2008 12:02 PM
See it's like this, everything the government touches turns to s**t. Ethanol was supposed to be the answer, but, growing more corn produces more pollution from fertilizer. Your car also gets 2 miles less to the gallon on average over gasoline thats not 10 or 15 % ethanol. You can tell the guys that live biking distance from the break here, or have lots of $ to spend on food, gas, etc. Pickens has the idea, natural gas as a bridge to the future, wind, solar and GASP nuclear energy.
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