Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator from Florida: Published Column: Drilling in Gulf won't reduce dependency on foreign oil sources

An explosion at an offshore natural-gas drilling site caused a 200,000-gallon crude oil spill off California's coast in January 1969. While small in comparison to other oil spills, the incident dealt a devastating blow to neighboring beaches and aquatic life.

As tides brought an 800-square-mile slick ashore, oil coated 35 miles of the coastline, blackening beaches and killing thousands of birds, dolphins, seals, fish, and other wildlife. The national outcry that followed sparked a movement that eventually led to legal bans against oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

That's how Florida has been spared the potential devastation of oil spills suffered by other states such as California and Alaska.

Unfortunately, the greedy oil industry now is attempting to undo this longstanding ban -- with misleading claims and without good cause. And they're putting at risk not only Florida's environmental treasures and tourist-driven economy, but also our nation's military readiness and the environments of other coastal states. On Wednesday, the U.S. House Resources Committee rejected efforts to block this industry-backed provision that could subject all coastal states to drilling 25 miles off their shores.

Currently, waters up to 285 miles off Tampa Bay are protected from drilling. But one pending, irresponsible proposal could bring gas rigs within 25 miles of the state and oil rigs within 50 miles. It's being sold as a way to increase current oil supplies and reduce our dependency on foreign oil sources. However, it does nothing to achieve those goals, while placing Florida's $50-billion tourism economy in serious jeopardy.

Studies have found that there is relatively little oil in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and that drilling in the area will make no difference in high gas prices or our current foreign oil dependency. While this additional drilling was proposed in response to the current interruption in supply following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, new rigs in the Gulf also would be highly vulnerable to future hurricanes. The new drilling would do nothing to maintain the nation's oil supply in the event of another similar natural disaster.

Bipartisan issue

Placing our state's economy and environmental resources in jeopardy for only marginal returns is simply not worth the risk. Florida's overall economic health is dependent on preserving the coastal areas that draw tourists to our state from all over the globe. A single spill would leave blackened beaches and a devastated tourism industry.

Protecting our coasts from dangerous and unsightly offshore drilling makes good economic sense for Florida, regardless of political party or ideology.

Over the past few months, I've worked closely with both Republicans and Democrats, including Florida GOP Senator Mel Martinez. U.S. Reps. Connie Mack III, also a Republican, and Jim Davis, a Democrat, along with 20 other members of Florida's bipartisan congressional delegation signed a letter in opposition to drilling closer to the state. And just two weeks ago 19 senators from coastal states and both political parties publicly urged their colleagues to reject efforts to end the ban on offshore oil drilling. This is an issue that should concern all Americans, not just those living along our nation's coasts.

All Americans should be concerned because the eastern Gulf provides a unique training and testing area for our nation's military forces. Under a 1983 agreement with the Reagan administration, both the Navy and Air Force have been using the open waters there for crucial air and sea training and testing that cannot be conducted elsewhere.

In response to the recent drilling proposals and at my request, Senators John Warner and Carl Levin, the committee chair and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, agreed to have the Pentagon review the impact of any new drilling. I look forward to hearing the Pentagon's findings, and will work to ensure that essential military operations in the Gulf of Mexico are not interrupted.

While most Floridians and their elected officials agree that we need to prevent oil drilling off our coast, we also recognize that Congress must address U.S. oil shortages, foreign dependency, and the high gas prices. I believe there are ways of solving these problems without placing our economy and environment in danger.

Conserve energy

Raising the required fuel efficiency standards for cars by nine miles-per-gallon would save the United States about a fourth of all the oil we currently import -- significantly decreasing our dependency.

Practical alternative fuel technology exists as well. Ethanol, nuclear power plants, and gas made from coal offer attractive alternatives to drilling.

Consider that the United States has only about 3 percent of all the world's oil reserves, meaning that there's no way to drill our way out of this crisis. Instead, we must conserve energy and develop alternative fuels -- while continuing to protect Florida's strong economy, unique environmental resources, and unmatched military training sites by stopping current proposals to expand drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Budget and Aging committees.

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