FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Many environmental groups are opposing the Trump administration’s plans for new oil drilling off the coasts of California, Alaska, and the eastern gulfs in Florida as it puts waters and wildlife at risk.
“It’s like a perfect nightmare for an ocean lover to think about new offshore grilling off of Florida,” said Mike Gibaldi, a chair member of Surfrider Foundation Miami. “The nightmare.”
Due to concerns of oil spills, the federal government hasn’t allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern gulf off of Florida’s coast since 1995.
However, in November, the Trump administration announced plans to expand off shore drilling and boost oil production to strengthen U.S. energy security.
“Not only does drilling present the risk of another oil spill, which can devastate our ecosystems and our coastal communities, but it doesn’t make sense to continue to burn fossil fuels that are making our planet warmer and negatively impacting our environments and our coastline,” said Raymer McGuire, the director of campaigns and policy for the Cleo Institute.
The proposal includes 34 potential offshore lease sales over five years, covering almost 1.3 billion acres and includes 21 areas off the coast of Alaska, six along the Pacific, and seven in the gulf -- including possible sites 100 miles off the coast of Florida.
“One spill could undo hundreds of years of environmental stewardship,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “One spill could eliminate 1000s and 1000s of jobs over many, many years, and the death knell of an endangered species and the impact on all of the flora and fauna.”
Mayor Levine Cava was one of the first elected officials to speak out against the move. She submitted this letter below to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management stating her objections.
“Frankly, outrage, absolutely no place for offshore drilling,” she said. “We’ve been there, done that. We’ve seen it with horizon, deep water. This has happened already.”
In April of 2010, Deepwater Horizon, an offshore drilling rig exploded in the then called Gulf of Mexico. The explosion killed 11 workers and caused the largest marine oil spoil in U.S. history.
It took 87 days to contain and led to extensive environmental damage. The cleanup costed around $65 billion.
Mayor Levine Cava says the past has shown us that there is too much at stake.
“So we have our our economy, our tourism, our fishing, our quality of life issues, and we just cannot risk it. And really, who wants it?”
Due to strong ocean currents, a spill in the eastern gulf would be devastating to South Florida.
“That could carry around the bottom of Florida in currents if there’s an accident, and the chances are good, and we have basically $127 billion economy and 2.1 million jobs that are at stake if we have an oil spill disaster,” Gibaldi said.
Gibaldi is with Surfrider Foundation, Miami and they have teamed up with Oceana and other environmental advocacy groups to collect signatures to oppose offshore drilling plans. They plan to submit to Boem before the Jan. 23 deadline.
“We need hundreds of 1000s of people, millions of people across the country to fill out that action alert, get that message to the administration, stop this five year plan so it does not affect our beaches,” Gibaldi said.
In December, all 30 members of Florida’s congressional delegation signed a letter to President Donald Trump, expressing strong opposition to any offshore drilling off of Florida’s coast.
Gibaldi says it’s up to residents to speak up before it’s too late.
“It concerns me, because I live here, I want this to be like a paradise, and I don’t want to see oil slicks going everywhere,” said ocean lover Michael Walton.
“This is like urgent,” said Gabby Ronconi. “Save our planet. We’re going to save our place, our home, our animals, ourselves. This is we need to make our voices heard and really protect what matters.”
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