Today, the House of
Representatives rejected pro-drilling amendments to the FY08
Interior-Environment Spending Bill. These amendments would have lifted the
current moratorium against new offshore drilling leases in Florida
waters.
Statement of Environment Florida
Director Mark Ferrulo:
“The Florida Congressional delegation flexed their muscle today and defeated
another short-sighted, far reaching attack on our coastline. A united Florida
delegation is indeed a powerful force.
Offshore drilling is the slowest, dirtiest and most expensive way to produce
energy. Opening our coast to drilling would do little to lower consumer prices
or make us energy independent, but it would threaten our beaches with pollution,
potential oil spills and put at risk our multi-billion dollar coastal tourism
economy.
It was great to see members of Florida’s Congressional delegation,
Republicans and Democrats, actively opposing these drilling amendments. This is
a welcome change from last year when our delegation was fractured and a bill
that gave 8 million acres of the eastern Gulf to the oil industry was
approved.
It was particularly heartening to see newly elected Representative Kathy
Castor (Tampa) emerge as an effective champion for Florida’s
coast.
The fight to protect Florida’s coast from offshore drilling is far from over.
As long as we are a nation addicted to fossil fuels, Florida’s coast will always
be under attack.”
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