FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 8, 2018
DEP Submits Comments Opposing Expansion of Offshore Drilling
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, in advance of
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s public meeting on the Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas leasing program today in Tallahassee, Florida Department of
Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein
submitted a letter opposing the inclusion of any lease sales in Florida's
coastal and offshore areas. In January, Governor Scott secured
a commitment from Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to take Florida
off the table for future consideration for offshore oil drilling. This
letter also expresses Florida's continued commitment to the protection of
Florida’s coastal and offshore areas, which have high environmental, economic
and strategic value not only for Florida, but also for the nation.
View the full letter below or click HERE.
February 8, 2018
Ms. Kelly Hammerle, Chief
National
Oil and Gas Leasing Program Development and Coordination Branch
Leasing
Division
Office
of Strategic Resources
Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management (VAM-LD)
45600
Woodland Road
Sterling,
VA 20166-9216
Dear Ms. Hammerle:
The Florida Department
of Environmental Protection (Department) has reviewed the recently released
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) 2019-2024 Draft Proposed Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program (Draft Proposed
Program). We oppose the inclusion of any lease sales in Florida’s coastal
and offshore areas. Florida's coastal and offshore areas have high
environmental, economic and military value not only for Florida, but also for
the nation. These areas provide great economic impact for our citizens
and provide each resident with recreational opportunities that are unique to
Florida.
As the Department
outlined in August 2017, we've remained concerned by the potential impacts of
OCS oil and gas activities on marine and coastal environments and the
biological resources and critical habitats associated with them, as well as the
military activities critical to our nation's security. Therefore, Florida
does not support the proposed lease sales offshore Florida as outlined in the
Draft Proposed Program. These concerns were shared with Secretary Ryan
Zinke by Governor Rick Scott. After a recent meeting with Governor Scott,
Secretary Zinke announced that Florida was off the table for future
consideration for offshore oil drilling. This commitment, secured by Governor
Scott, was welcomed by everyone who opposes offshore oil drilling off Florida's
coast.
On behalf of the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, we are thankful for Secretary
Zinke's personal engagement on these issues and his commitment to protecting
Florida's environment. As we have seen in the past, oil spills can have a
devastating impact to Florida's economy and our diverse natural
resources. As BOEM continues to develop the next National OCS Program and
to evaluate the program’s impacts, primary consideration should be given to the
long-term protection of Florida’s unique and sensitive resources. Florida will
continue to work with state, regional and local agencies to provide additional
technical details outlining our objections to the proposed expansion of OCS oil
activities in Florida’s coastal and offshore areas.
Sincerely,
Noah Valenstein
Secretary
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