Oppose the Dirty Drilling Swindle in Florida!

Defenders of Wildlife
Wildlife Action Center

The Florida House of Representatives just passed a bill to open up state waters to destructive nearshore oil drilling, and if the state senate approves it, our coasts -- and the marine wildlife, communities and tourist economies they support -- will be put at serious risk.

Nearshore drilling will cause significant harm to our ecosystems and economies -- and could be downright disastrous. The federal agency that regulates offshore drilling reported 124 oil spills caused by hurricanes in 2005 alone.

The Senate will be deciding whether or not to consider this bill -- or pass it into law -- any day now. We need your help to ensure our state leaders don’t fall for this underhanded scheme. Please stand up for wildlife today.

Call on Your Legislator to Oppose Nearshore Oil Drilling

Audobon

Protect Florida Now and in the Future:
Call on Your Legislator to Oppose Near-shore Oil Drilling
and Support Clean, Renewable Solutions Instead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tuesday, the House passed a late-filed amendment to HB 1219 in committee, sending language to the House floor that would open Florida's nearshore waters to oil drilling.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to stop this dangerous proposal. Please call or email your Legislator and tell him or her not to gamble with Florida's future. Your lawmaker needs to hear from you.

Moving a proposal of this magnitude in the last 9 days of Legislative Session is not government in the sunshine. If Florida is going to consider lifting its several decades-old ban on nearshore drilling, it warrants substantial public and legislative discussion, not a last minute rush to law.

Florida's coastal economy is based on tourism and healthy, abundant natural resources. The magnitude of drilling's potential economic benefits is hypothetical and uncertain; our coastal economy is real and substantial. Please don't trade a certain, sustainable source of income for a risky payout.

This bill would put above-water drilling from three to ten miles off our Gulf Coast and as close as 1 mile offshore for underwater drilling operations. This proximity to shallow-water natural resources is too risky for our coastal economy, ecology and communities.

If you would like to demonstrate your commitment to American fuel independence, please support renewable portfolio and clean car standards that would also serve to reduce Florida's greenhouse gas emissions.

Please oppose HB 1219 on Special Order on Friday. This bill is bad for transparency in government, and bad for Florida's ecology and coastal economy. We need your leadership now.