Both Political Parties Come Together to Oppose Oil Drilling off Florida’s East Coast

The federal government is contemplating a new initiative that would permit oil drilling along almost the entire U.S. coastline. This would include regions like Florida’s east coast, which currently has a drilling ban in place.

It appears this issue is one in which both sides of the aisle agree: they don’t want oil drilling in Florida’s Atlantic waters.

At present, Florida’s eastern shoreline is protected by a moratorium that prevents drilling within three miles into federal waters.

However, the federal government is thinking about changing that.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is welcoming public opinions for a period of 45 days regarding a proposal that aims to open up nearly the entire U.S. coastline for oil exploration.

“This is a decision that could dramatically impact our way of life in St. Johns County and northeast Florida for the inherent risks offshore drilling brings,” Hunter Miller said. He is the senior field campaigns manager for Oceana, an environmental watchdog group. 

Environmental groups such as Oceana are opposed to oil drilling, arguing it would negatively hurt marine life,  the state’s major tourism industry, and Floridians’ quality of life.

And it’s expected that environmental groups, which often lean left, would oppose oil drilling in coastal waters.

However, many Republican leaders in the state also don’t want drilling off Florida.

“I am not supportive of drilling off Florida’s coast,” Denver Cook told First Coast News Thursday. He is St. Johns County’s Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee.

He added, “I can’t think of one person who would say, ‘Yes. Let’s drop some oil wells off of there, and that’s what we’re looking for in Florida.'”

And that’s even when Republican President Donald Trump gets cheers from audiences when he says, “Drilling. Drill. Drill. Dril!.’

Cook noted that tourism and agriculture industries are vital to Florida and “the negative impact on those, would impact Floridian’s greatly.”

Cook said, “Drilling is an important part of the president’s efforts to making us energy independent and our national security. So I understand that. That said, drilling everywhere was never his plan.”

Miller from Oceana said, “We absolutely should be creating our own energy, and we really need to be investing more into more sustainable renewable energy like solar, like wind, and for the oil and gas industry there right now, we’re producing more oil in history than ever before.”

We asked Cook if it’s his view that people from parties agree on their stance on this issue. He said, “I think the citizens of Florida probably agree on it, and I would put it that way.”

“Once it’s done, it’s done. It’s a forever decision, so we have to make sure that we’re dong everything we can to protect our coast,” Miller said. 

The federal agency is taking public comment about the issue from now through July 16. Click here for more information.