Republicans and Democrats Unite to Oppose Plan to Drill Off the Florida Coast

There isn't too much these days that the 20 Republicans and eight Democrats who comprise Florida's congressional delegation agree upon, but they have united to take a stand together against a proposal to drill for oil off the state's Gulf coast.

The delegation has joined forces in signing on to a letter sent to President Donald Trump calling for him to honor a moratorium he signed in 2020 banning drilling in the Eastern Gulf and to extend the prohibition into perpetuity to protect the military training conducted there and the state's tourism industry. 

"In 2020, you made the right decision to use executive action to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing off Florida’s gulf and east coasts through 2032, recognizing the incredible value Florida’s pristine coasts have to our state’s economy, environment, and military community," the letter states. 

The letter was written following the Nov. 20 release of a map drawn up by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management calling to open millions of acres of previously protected offshore areas to oil and gas exploration. The strategy includes expanding offshore drilling into 19.88 million acres within the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, renamed by the U.S. government as the Gulf of America.

The 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis and Proposal outlines a plan to extend oil exploration and drilling opportunities east from the Alabama state line in federal waters along the entire length of Florida’s Panhandle.

The “new” planning area, labeled the South Central Gulf of America, would allow for new wells to be drilled at about 100 miles off the coast of Northwest Florida's beaches, known for their pristine white sand, and within approximately 200 miles of coastal destinations on the west side of the state like Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Under the plan oil and gas lease sales would be conducted in the Eastern Gulf region in 2029 and 2030, though drilling would be prohibited until the expiration of the Trump-ordered moratorium in 2032. 

The congressional delegation points out in its letter to the president the importance of the Gulf Test Range, which was established in 1983 and extends from approximately Hurlburt Field in southwest Okaloosa County to the southern tip of the state of Florida, encompassing 123,000 square miles of Gulf.

The letter describes the range as "a critical military training area used by several military forces along Florida’s Panhandle for advanced military testing, training, and evaluation of air and weapons systems."

"The Gulf Test Range remains an integral part of Department of War training to ensure mission readiness and is supported by multiple military bases in Florida’s Panhandle," the letter said. "Eglin Air Force Base alone supports 20,000 personnel," and "provides the country with $11 billion in economic impact every year."

It described the test range as "the largest multi-domain military training and testing complex in the country."

"Its unique geographic characteristics enable critical preparation for real world contingencies. Protecting this range from encroachment, including oil exploration, is essential," the letter said. 

Delegation members also relayed the devastating impact a drilling mishap could have on Florida's tourism-based economy, reminding the president of the economic havoc created by the Deepwater Horizon. Even though that spill took place well off the coast of Louisiana, it spewed millions of gallons of oil that traveled from more than 100 miles away to stain the coast of Florida. "Florida’s economy relies on that same beautiful coastline, vibrant tourism industry, and sustainable fisheries," the letter said. "In fact, Florida’s beaches alone generate more than $127.7 billion per year in tourism spending and support over 2.1 million tourism-related jobs. ... The risks posed by new offshore drilling far outweigh any short-term gains."

Hunter Miller, a spokesman for the conservation agency Oceana, called the letter to Trump from the entire Florida delegation, "an important milestone in this fight."

With an email acknowledging the delegation's letter, Miller included three maps put together by Oceana indicating potential impacts the extended drilling could have on 15 military bases on or near the Gulf in Florida; the proximity of drilling, if approved, on important commercial fish species; and the devastation oil exploration and drilling could have on vulnerable Gulf wildlife, including the severely endangered Rice's whale.

On Monday, Dec. 8, the Santa Rosa County Commission committed at its Committee of the Whole meeting to support the delegation and make their own call to the federal government to reconsider its plan to drill in the Eastern Gulf. 

Newly appointed County Commission Chairman Colten Wright introduced the resolution for consideration. The county will join neighboring local governments in stating opposition to Eastern Gulf drilling when an official vote to pass the measure is held Thursday at its regular meeting. 

"I have had conversations with Rep. (Jimmy) Patronis and senators Moody and Scott's offices," Wright said. "They assured me that any additional support from local government would be appreciated."

"On behalf of the Santa Rosa County Commission and the tourism stakeholders of Northwest Florida, we write to express our support for the permanent protection of the Eastern Gulf Test & Training Range (EGTTR) from oil drilling and other related energy exploration initiatives," the resolution said. "As both a military and tourism hub, our region depends on the continued viability of this critical national security asset."

The resolution states Santa Rosa "proudly stand arm-in-arm with our neighbors in the city of Pensacola as well as Escambia and Okaloosa Counties" in rejecting the offshore drilling proposal.

"We respectfully request your strong support in ensuring the permanent protection of the (test range)," the resolution states. "By securing this critical resource, we will help safeguard our national defense capabilities while preserving the environmental and economic vitality that makes Santa Rosa County, and Northwest Florida, a premier destination for visitors and a key contributor to our nation's security."