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Florida Wildlife Federation Calls for Constitutional Amendment to Help Protect Coastline
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - As disaster teams prepare for oil to reach the Florida coast from the massive Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf, the Florida Wildlife Federation wants the state to consider a constitutional amendment to ban drilling in all Florida waters. Manley Fuller, President of the organization, says they want to prohibit drilling in zones nearly 11 miles out off the Florida Gulf coast, and three miles off the Atlantic coast.
He calls it necessary because, until this oil spill, many legislators have supported efforts to bring drilling closer to Florida's shores.
"It ought to be a wake-up call to everybody. We need to prevent any foolish legislation which would authorize drilling in Florida waters. We need to do a petition and prohibit it in the constitution."
Fuller says the spill is a reminder of the threats of closer offshore drilling to Florida's beaches and wildlife, and therefore, to the state's economy.
"The natural resources and the resource-based economy of Florida is what's at risk here. When people realize how horrendous this thing is and what a threat to the state's economy, I think that there'll be a lot of support."
Oil industry leaders have touted the safety of new drilling technology, and say more drilling is essential to reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Fuller argues that there is now an even stronger case for developing alternative energy sources, like solar and wind, as well as increasing drilling safeguards.
"This spill is going to be, I think, a big catalyst for change, and there's going to have to be a lot more scrutiny in sensitive areas like the Gulf of Mexico."
Fuller adds that even a constitutional amendment would not provide quite enough protection for the Florida coast, but he says it's the best the state can do without additional safeguards from the federal government. He says the Florida Wildlife Federation is starting a campaign to put such an amendment on the ballot in 2012.
Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for portions of the Florida coast, and teams are preparing to try to control, contain, and clean up the oil expected to arrive on the state's shores within days.
Article reprinted with permission from The Florida News Connection
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