There were two editorials in todays Sarasota Herald. Both were anti drilling. The first was at the top of the page and clearly represents the opinion of the paper.
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Hold the line
It was only a matter of time before America's thirst for oil led to proposals that drillers stick huge "straws" into the bed of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. But Gov. Jeb Bush and other Florida leaders want to hold the line drawn in the sandy bottom of the Gulf in order to protect other assets -- the environment and the tourist trade that depends upon clean, sandy beaches.
The same pursuit of oil that President George W. Bush and his administration have touted as justification for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has fueled interest in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. But the administration's and the drilling industry's arguments fail to acknowledge two critical points: The risks still outweigh the gains, and the nation has yet to seriously reduce energy demands through conservation and adequate investment in alternative sources.
To their credit, Gov. Bush and Florida's congressional delegation remain adamantly opposed to drilling, and the government leases of sea bottom that would be required, in the eastern Gulf. They know the oil could only briefly sate the lust for fuel while increasing the risks of damage to the environment, including Florida's beaches and shores.
Floridians have been accused of being selfish for wanting to protect their coast while using oil obtained from other coastal areas. But our view is that no more leases or drilling should be allowed until the nation develops a long-term strategy for reducing its dependence on carbon-based fuels.
The Natural Resources Defense Council issued a report in February describing conservation strategies, including:
Elevating fuel economy standards for new cars, sport utility vehicles and light trucks to 39 mpg over the next decade.
Requiring fuel efficient tires.
Expanded credits for home insulation.
Those aren't the oil-based fixes that President Bush and his aides favor but they are clean and simple. Combined with other strategies, they could make a positive difference.
The bottom line: Florida's coastline should remain protected until America proves that other methods of meeting energy demands have failed.
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DARYL LEASE: Comment
It's a pity Mother Nature didn't fill out an application for the federal witness protection program and get the hell out of the nation's capital years ago. A new name, a new city, a new VW bus: She might have been spared the ignominy of her new role fetching drinks for the oil-industry slicksters who now soil the rugs and put their feet up on the furniture in the White House.
Last week, it became clear what the slicksters have been discussing of late over their scotch and water (and arsenic). They want to open up Florida's side of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas production, an idea that Florida's governor -- who happens to be the president's brother -- happens to vehemently oppose.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton recently sent a throat-clearing letter to Jeb Bush informing him that, ahem ahem ahem, President George W. Bush is proceeding with long-delayed plans to open up 6 million acres of oil and gas sites as close as 30 miles from Florida's coast.
The announcement reverses the position Dubya took during the presidential campaign, when -- arm in arm with his brother -- he was working so hard to capture the hearts of Florida's undecided voters
Al Gore, you may recall, was often wobbly on the issue of drilling in the Gulf, just like his wobbly boss. But, in 1999 and again in 2000, Dubya crested the hill in his 10-gallon hat and boldly declared his intention to stand up to the oil industry that has been so kind to his family through the years. No drilling off Florida's coast, he declared.
Well, actually, he had an aide crest the hill and say those things for him. "The people of Florida and their governor have made known their opposition to offshore drilling," spokesman Scott McClelland said in 1999. "\[George W.\] Bush supports them in their efforts."
Indeed, Jeb Bush has repeatedly made known his opposition to offshore drilling. He's all but held his breath, stomped his feet and run to Barbara Bush crying, "Mommm!"
Shortly after Dubya took office, Jeb fired off a letter to the White House. "I am confident," he wrote, "the new administration will recognize the need to protect sensitive natural resources located both offshore, and along Florida's coastline, for the benefit of the entire nation."
Gale Norton's response, months later, is essentially, "Yeah, we'll get back to you on that, Governor, uh, … Bush, was it?"
Just think where we'd be right now if Jeb's brother weren't president. Standing in a gas-station parking lot, with Chevron caps on our heads and squeegees in our hands, I'm guessing.
Chevron, by the way, stands to be the big winner here if big brother successfully trumps little brother. The oil company has applied to build the first production platform off Florida's coast and has invested some $100 million in the effort to "rig" the Gulf.
But as the environmentally minded Florida Public Interest Research Group points out, Chevron shouldn't inspire much confidence among Floridians. Between 1956 and 1990, the company had 40 major accidents, 14 gas or oil blowouts and 65 fires and explosions while drilling in the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Louisiana and Alabama.
The oil industry, however, contends there's no reason to worry about catastrophic spills oozing onto Florida's beaches. Between 1980 and 1999, the slicksters say, oil rigs in federal waters have pumped 7.4 billion barrels of oil and spilled less than 0.001 percent.
That's hardly reassuring. As the Tampa Tribune recently noted, that's the equivalent of dumping the contents of the crankcases of 2.5 million cars into the Gulf of Mexico. Lovely image, no?
What's most disturbing about Dubya's turnaround, however, is that opening up the Florida coast to drilling will produce an estimated 2.5 months worth of the nation's energy needs.
Two and a half months. Are we risking Florida's environment and tourism industry so that everyone can go on a summer vacation next year? And then what? This is what Dubya considers an energy "plan"?
Sounds like someone needs to get his feet off the furniture and spend a little more time working on a realistic, long-term proposal for solving our energy problems. For starters, how about stepping up the production of fuel-efficient vehicles?
Daryl Lease is an editorial writer for the Herald-Tribune. Contact him at daryl.lease@herald-trib.com and 742-6174. |
