Senate panel approves drilling off Florida (includes 10 miles off the Florida Panhandle)

[seafan]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate committee on Tuesday approved opening the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling, including in an area rich with natural gas 10 miles off the Florida Panhandle. A 45-mile no-drilling buffer would be maintained off most of Florida's coast.

The provision was tacked onto a broader energy bill by a vote of 13-10 in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The committee was expected to advance the legislation later this week.
The eastern Gulf of Mexico — an area stretching from 125 to 300 miles off Florida's coast was singled out for protection by Congress in 2006 as part of a deal with Florida lawmakers that made available 8.3 million acres to oil and gas development in the east-central Gulf. The protected region is to remain off limits to energy development until 2022.

But the Energy panel on Tuesday approved a provision offered by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., that would end the drilling ban across most of the eastern Gulf waters, including in an area known as the Destin Dome which reaches within 10 miles off Pensacola, Fla., and is believed to have as much as 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

.....

Dorgan argued that there's no reason why the eastern Gulf, including the Destin Dome area, should stay off limits with its close proximity to existing oil and gas drilling and pipeline systems in the central and western Gulf.
But adding the controversial drilling provision is likely to make it even more difficult to get the energy legislation through the Senate later this year.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4_szFI65GjF71aPoODX_yWXoASAD98NAE3G1

---

What in sam hill is Dorgan thinking? Just speechless.

[xchrom]

1. it's a big tent party -- even for those who want to fuckin wreck it all. nt

[truthisfreedom]

2. And this will be all well and good until the oil washes ashore.

Like always.

Our politicians have very short memories.

[T Wolf]

3. BUt, it CANNOT wash ashore up to North Dakota. Question answered. nt

[seafan]

4. Bill Nelson is fighting mad: "We're just simply not going to let this happen,"

Let's see what you're made of, Senator. Florida is in agony.

.....

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said he and a number of other senators will filibuster the bill if the drilling provision isn't removed. Such a parliamentary stalling tactic requires 60 votes to overcome.

Nelson, who rushed to the committee room to observe the vote and talk to reporters, said opening the eastern Gulf would allow oil and gas rigs to be put in the midst of a military training and aircraft firing range that stretches across the eastern Gulf waters.

"We're just simply not going to let this happen," Nelson told reporters.

The measure passed with bipartisan support including the backing of Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the committee chairman.

Ironically, it didn't get the support of Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the ranking Republican, both of whom are ardent advocates for expanding offshore oil and gas development. They voted against Dorgan because his proposal did not include revenue sharing with the coastal states.

.....

Our party is truly infested.

[DaLittle Kitty]

9. Nelson Is Pathetic! See How Tough He Is Here. He gets Oil $ I'm Sure!

:puke:

[backtoblue]

5. so much for planet earth...

:banghead:

[KoKo]

6. "Drill Baby, Drill!" It will help Fla Economy. Wonder what else is in the works

for our Senators to help our begging State Governments as the run out of money now that the Banks and Hedge fund owners of Chrysler and GM are bailed out along with AIG and the rest...it's left up to the States to Drill, Nuke and Blast to save their own economies.

Disgusting...

[tomm2thumbs]

7. I'm sure all the tourist industries are loving this - they'll raise hell and they have sway

That's a lovely tower-infested natural coastline you have there - maybe I'll go visit another state with my money.

[Jakes Progress]

8. Kinda makes us feel a little foolish

for thinking that electing our president and getting a majority would make a difference.

[Zhade]

10. My hometown beaches!

:cry: