I wholeheartedly support H.R.2630 - Preserving Florida's Coastal Communities Act that Representative David Jolly (R-FL13) and Representative Gwen Graham (D-FL2) introduced with bipartisan legislative support on June 3 with additional co-sponsorship by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL16) and Representative Patrick Murphy (D-FL18).  I support seeking to amend the expiration date of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA) from “June 30, 2022” to “June 30, 2027” thus extending protection of our beloved Florida Gulf Coast and minimizing risk for environmental impacts associated with offshore oil drilling. 

GOMESA set forth a 100 to 235 mile no-drill-zone running along Florida’s northern panhandle and down along its western gulf shore, ensuring the state’s Gulf of Mexico coastline continues to be an unparalleled natural resource for marine and coastal wildlife sanctuaries, fisheries, coastal communities, water and beach recreation, and vacationers.  Many coastal economies depend heavily on pristine beaches and clean, clear Florida Gulf Coast water.  

Additionally, I support S.1430 - Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act filed by Florida Senator Bill Nelson in opposition response to the S.1276 - Offshore Energy and Jobs Act of 2015 that would move the barrier to just 50 to 75 miles from Florida’s coast.  I also oppose Senate Bill S.1276 that was introduced by Senators from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, who do not have prime gulf coast beach real estate, and their coastal economy is not directly tied to beach, water recreation, and vacationers.  These three states have already jeopardized their coastal regions and have experienced severe negative impact from offshore oil drilling, oil spills, and they currently do not have much to lose.  Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas should not be abdicating to put Florida’s pristine gulf coastal region and associated economic base at risk so that their local oil drilling based economies can doubly flourish. 

An August 13, 2013 Tampa Bay Times article reported that negative impact of the 2010 Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill (also known as the BP Oil Spill) was seen in the Tampa Bay area during a study done in 2013.  The study “found that one of the plumes of dispersant-treated oil had reached a shelf eighty miles off the Tampa Bay region.”  According to the American Chemical Society, and John Paul, the University of South Florida oceanography professor who is lead author on the study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, there is “evidence it may have caused lesions in fish caught in that area.”  The study also confirmed, in that same area, “the oil and dispersant mixture is embedded in the sand.” 

The oil spill in 2010 was 300+ miles from the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg.  Adverse effects continue to been seen in 2013 eighty miles from Tampa Bay.  The 2010 oil spill drifted alarming close to our shores as evidenced when watching Tracking the Oil Spill in the Gulf based on information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html, New York Times).  An oil spill closer than 300+ miles to the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg area would be extremely disastrous on so many levels for our region and our state.  

Please oppose S.1276 - Offshore Energy and Jobs Act of 2015.

Thank you for supporting H.R.2630 - Preserving Florida's Coastal Communities Act, and for supporting Senator Bill Nelson’s S.1430 - Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act.  You have my utmost respect and full support. 

References:

109th Congress (2005-2006) (2006) S.3711 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA). Library of Congress, Thomas. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.3711:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard (2010). The New York Times. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html

Paul, John. (2013) Toxicity and Mutagenicity of Gulf of Mexico Waters During and After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. American Chemical Society for Environmental Science & Technology. DOI 10.1021/es401761h. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es401761h?prevSearch=%255BContrib%253A%2BJohn%2BPaul%255D&searchHistoryKey=

Pittman, Craig (2013) Oil from BP spill pushed onto shelf off Tampa Bay by underwater currents, study finds. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/oil-from-bp-spill-was-pushed-onto-shelf-off-tampa-bay-by-underwater/2137406

Rep. Jolly, David W. [R-FL-13] Sponsor (2015) H.R.2630 - Preserving Florida's Coastal Communities Act. Library of Congress. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2630/text

Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (2015) S.1276 - Offshore Energy and Jobs Act of 2015. Library of Congress. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1276/cosponsors

Sen. Nelson, Bill [R-FL] (2015) Nelson: Florida under siege. Bill Nelson, Florida. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nelson-florida-under-siege

Sen. Nelson, Bill [R-FL] Sponsor. (2015) S.1430 - Marine Oil Spill Prevention Act. Library of Congress. Retrieved on June 10, 2015 from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1430