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Congress thirsts for oil drilling in Florida waters

Rising fuel prices and a reluctance to rely on foreign oil raises the pressure to drill in gulf waters.

By ANITA KUMAR
Published May 20, 2005

WASHINGTON - Florida lawmakers helped defeat an impromptu challenge in the House on Thursday that would have weakened, and perhaps eventually eliminated, the moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas off the state's coast.

But the battle is just a sign of what is to come.

Skyrocketing fuel prices and a reluctance to rely on foreign energy sources has Congress feeling growing pressure to allow offshore drilling in Florida and other parts of the United States.

"We have never seen such a high intensity and orchestrated effort," said Mark Ferrulo, director of the Florida Public Interest Research Group. "Every time we turn around there is a new proposal."

The federal government has banned drilling off Florida's coast since 1983 - a decision that has been upheld by Congress and the last three presidents, including George W. Bush.

Florida is the only state in the Gulf of Mexico that prohibits oil drilling.

"I just think the pressure has intensified to drill in the eastern Gulf. This used to happen every year or two; now it's happening every few months," said Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa. "Energy companies obviously have influence with the political crowd in Washington."

Already this year:

The House passed an energy bill that would weaken a state's ability to fight offshore drilling.

Two senators introduced a bill that would allow states to opt out of the moratorium and give money to states that allow drilling.

The Senate voted to allow oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson is holding up an Interior Department confirmation because the Bush administration will not guarantee it will protect a large swath of the gulf off Florida from drilling.

On Thursday, lawmakers tried to pass two amendments to the Interior Department's spending bill on the House floor.

Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., wanted to allow oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico if the net imports of crude oil account for more than two-thirds of U.S. consumption. Today it makes up 53 percent.

"It's time to say this is not a perpetual ban," Istook said. "Isn't it about time we find a common sense approach?"

Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., wanted to eliminate the ban on natural gas drilling off the U.S. coast.

Supporters of the amendments said the ban needed to be reconsidered since fuel prices and the U.S. reliance on foreign oil continues to rise, and safer drilling practices now exist. But opponents said they worry about the environment and that a full discussion with hearings should be held before a decision is made.

"We should take a look at this," said Rep. Norman Dicks, D-Wash. "But to come here now . . . and reverse 25 years of presidential and congressional cooperation would be a serious mistake."

As news spread Thursday of the amendments, Florida and California lawmakers contacted their colleagues in other coastal and Great Lakes states for support.

Istook's amendment was deemed an inappropriate addition to the bill. Peterson's amendment was voted down, 262 to 157. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, was the only Floridian to vote for the amendment.

"It's not always easy to overturn preconceived notions, no matter how misinformed, and I look forward to building on this discussion in the months ahead," Peterson said.

Some members had tried unsuccessfully to pass provisions - eliminating the moratorium and allowing companies to drill to conduct a natural gas inventory - while the bill was being heard in committee.

"It's not over," said Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores. "The reason it's not is because the other coastal states believe Florida should not have any special privileges. They are the ones that will try to continue to get rid of this moratorium."

Some oil leases were sold in the gulf south of the Florida Panhandle many years ago. But action by Congress and President Bush's father prevents drilling there and prohibits any new leases within about 100 miles of the state's coast.

"This is Round 1," said Frank Jackalone, Florida representative of the Sierra Club. "The oil industry will come back and come back and come back to us. They are going to say we are in a crisis and we need immediate drilling."

[Last modified May 20, 2005, 01:05:11]