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Let Floridians Vote on Near Shore Oil
With the massive and ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico spewing millions of gallons into the nation’s marine waters, now is the time for our elected government to allow us, the citizens of the state, to decide whether we want to allow oil and gas exploration in our state waters. Our state waters stretch from our beaches to three miles out in the Atlantic and nine miles out into the Gulf. I am hopeful Governor Crist will soon call a special session and that the Legislature will pass a Joint Resolution to put this issue on the November 2010 ballot. Allow us the opportunity to amend the constitution and stop any chance of this ever happening right next to our shoreline.
I can think of no more crucial issue to Florida’s economy and ecology. We rely on tourism and the trademark of white sandy beaches to create and retain jobs. If the ongoing spill had happened right off Naples, Jacksonville, Tampa or Miami, our entire economy would take a hit that would last years. It is the last thing we need to have to worry about. If the amendment passes, oil drilling will continue in the Gulf, just not right next to Florida.
While the UC is responsible for overall management of the incident, Governor
Crist designated DEP as the lead state agency - supported by the State
Emergency Response Team (SERT) - for responding to potential impacts of the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill along Florida's shoreline. Currently, there are
no impacts to the state projected in the next 72 hours. So the state's
coastline has not been impacted at this time and remains open for public
enjoyment. The state continues to focus on preparations to safeguard our
shoreline and its resources and planning for response efforts.
Where the massive spill south of Pensacola will end up, and which communities will have to pay the price, we do not yet fully know. But citizens should be allowed to make their opinions known in November. This is an issue that supersedes Republican, Democratic or Independent partisan politics. It is an issue about our future. Let us vote.
By Preston Robertson
Vice President for Conservation & General Counsel
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