http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN1116218520100211

Reuters   Thu Feb 11, 2010 8:06pm GMT   By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The U.S. Interior Department on Thursday issued the final terms for leasing almost 37 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico to energy companies so they can drill for oil and natural gas.    The area to be leased may hold up to 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas, according to the department, which is also shortening the time that companies would have to develop the tracts.

Lease Sale 213 involves about 6,958 tracts spread over 36.9 million acres located 3 to 230 miles off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The blocks are in water depths from 10 feet (3 meters) to more than 11,200 feet (3,400 meters).

The lease sale will include about 4.1 million acres in an area known as 181 South, off the Alabama-Florida border. Drilling off Florida in the Gulf is only allowed far from the state’s shoreline.   NOTE BY DEEVON:  THIS IS THE WORST NEWS.  THIS 181 Leasesale USED TO BE IN FLORIDA WATERS AND DRILLING HERE WAS BROADLY OPPOSED.   BUSH TRANSFERRED IT TO LOUISIANA WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION. DRILLING MUDS FROM THIS AREA WILL BE CARRIED BY THE GULF LOOP CURRENT INTO THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS.

The lease sale, which will be held on March 17, will cut the time energy companies have to develop oil and gas resources on certain tracts.
The leasing period for blocks in waters 400 to 800 meters (1,312 to 2,625 feet) deep would change from eight to five years, but when an exploratory well is drilled the lease could be extended by three years.

Blocks 800 to 1600 meters (2,625 to 5,249 feet) deep would have lease terms of seven years instead of 10 years. There would also be an extension of three years with an exploratory well.

The current 10-year leasing period would continue for blocks in 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) of water.

Liz Birnbaum, director of the department’s Minerals Management Service, said the shorter leasing periods will “provide a fair return to the public for (offshore) resources and a fair opportunity for lessees to explore, develop and profit from their leases while encouraging diligent development.”
Oil and gas companies have opposed the cut in the leasing periods.

“MMS recognizes that advances in technology have decreased the time necessary for exploration and development in some water depths, while frontier conditions still exist in the deepest waters of the Gulf,” said Birnbaum. “The reduction of some initial lease periods with possible extensions is a way to expedite development.”   Companies will have to pay the government a royalty fee based on 18.75 percent of the value of the oil and gas they drill in the offshore tracts.
(Reporting by Tom Doggett)

Special thanks to Richard Charter

Special thanks to Richard Charter

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/1473988.html   Florida beach towns plan anti-oil drilling protest  MiamiHerald.com – Beachside communities and environmentalists have planned a statewide protest against offshore oil-drilling for Saturday. “Hands Across the Sand” calls for …
 http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/514667.html?nav=5011        ‘Hands Across The Sand’ to protest drilling  Cape Coral Daily Breeze – Bob Petcher, Jeff Lysiak – Charlie Crist and state legislators to oppose any legislation that would allow oil drilling as close as three to 10 miles off the Florida coastland, …
  http://mulletwrapper.com/article.cfm?ID=1530       Perdido Chamber backs Feb. 13 Hands Across the Sand protest  Mullet Wrapper – … protest will convince the Florida Legislators and Governor Crist to drop any and all legislation that would allow oil drilling on Florida’s Coasts. …
   http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/feb/11/na-oppose-offshore-drilling-with-strong-show-of-ha/news-opinion-commentary/    Oppose offshore drilling with strong show of hands  Tampa Tribune – Cathy Harrelson – We want to let our state leaders know that we don’t want them to open Florida’s waters to offshore oil drilling. We’re going to wear black to symbolize an …
 http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/offshore-oil-drilling-foes-to-protest-on-beaches/1072362        Offshore oil drilling foes to protest on beaches  Tampabay.com – Craig Pittman – Organizers are asking opponents of drilling to dress in black – the color of an oil spill – and gather at their designated beach at 1 pm They want them to …
 http://www.tampabay.com/news/briefs/things-to-do-in-north-pinellas-from-valentines-day-dances-to-boating/1072304        Things to do in North Pinellas from Valentine’s Day dances to boating classes  Tampabay.com – Hands across the sand: A gathering to oppose oil drilling off Florida’s coasts begins at noon at the northwest corner of Fred Howard Beach, …
  http://cbs4.com/local/hands.in.the.2.1485015.html      Massive Protest To Pack South Florida Beaches  CBS 4 – “Hands across the sand” is planning a massive statewide gathering to protest expanded offshore drilling in Florida’s waters. Organizers say that the protest …
 http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST03BEACH021110.htm        Offshore drilling opponents plan beach lineup  Daytona Beach News-Journal – Dinah Voyles Pulver – Volunteers are expected to line up along the coast Saturday in Florida to protest proposals for oil drilling in the state’s offshore …
 http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/10/tiffany-jackson-join-the-fight-for-floridas/        Tiffany Jackson: Join the fight for Florida’s coasts  TCPalm – Everyone is urged to come out and “draw a line” in the sand against the devastating effects that oil drilling would have on our beaches, tourism and our way …
  http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2010-02-11/Entertainment/The_good_times_roll_this_weekend_for_Mardi_Gras.html       The good times roll this weekend for Mardi Gras  Gulf Breeze News – Have a negative opinion on the oil drilling to be conducted in the Gulf of Mexico? Come and support the others who seek to drive out the drilling at 12 p m. …
 http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-11/story/jacksonville_journal_activist_group_to_protest_drilling_off_floridas_coa        JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL: Activist group to protest drilling off Florida’s coast  Florida Times-Union – Opponents of plans to allow oil and gas drilling off Florida’s coast have scheduled demonstrations Saturday at Jacksonville Beach. …
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100211/OPINION05/2110306/1022/OPINION02/Anne-Schultz-Hands-Across-the-Sand-stands-for-solidarity-in-beach-protection         Anne Schultz: ‘Hands Across the Sand’ stands for solidarity in beach protection  Tallahassee Democrat – Anne W. Schultz – For Rauschkolb, as for many others, protecting these waters from oil drilling means far more than economics or politics. Many speak in reverence of the …
·http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100211/CAPITOLNEWS/2110317/Drilling-opponents-mounting–Hands-Across-Sand–protest         Drilling opponents mounting ‘Hands Across Sand’ protest  Tallahassee.com – Bill Cotterell – Black-clad opponents of offshore oil drilling hope to mount the biggest protest in Florida …

Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition

Caribbean Conservation Corporation & Sea Turtle Survival League 

Gulf Restoration Network · Indian River Keeper

Natural Resources Defense Council · Reef Relief

Surfrider Foundation

www.flcoastalandocean.org 

News Release   Contact: Lindsey Pickel (813) 846.1827

February 11, 2010

 FACTS SHOW COASTAL DRILLING TOO RISKY OFF FLORIDA’S COASTS

Today the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition, a group of organizations working together to conserve, protect and restore Florida’s coastal and marine environment, released a factsheet that explores the impacts of offshore drilling on  Florida’s coast. The factsheet shows that drilling off Florida’s coasts will not only endanger the environment Floridians treasure, but also cause significant economic losses to the state at a time when it is trying to recover from other economic impacts.

“Catastrophic oil spills, such as the recent Australian spill, remind us of the serious environmental consequences even state of the art technology can create” stated Lindsey Pickel, FCOC Coordinator.

 “It doesn’t make economic sense to threaten Florida’s valuable ocean and coastal economies that depend on clean water, beautiful beaches and abundant fish and wildlife with the pollution and industrialization that accompanies offshore drilling” said Sarah Chasis, Director of NRDC’s Ocean Initiative and a member of the Coalition’s Steering Committee. It makes more sense to invest in clean energy strategies that will create more jobs, spur new business and safeguard Florida’s great assets—its coasts and oceans.”

 The facts present clear evidence that Florida’s coastal and ocean economies provide far greater resources and revenues than projected drilling revenues.  Ericka D’Avanzo, Florida Regional Manager of Surfrider Foundation stated, “The proposed oil royalties pale in comparison to the potential damage caused by new coastal infrastructure to support drilling operations, the costs of drilling-related accidents, and, most importantly, Florida’s coastal recreation and marine economies which generated over $550 billion in 2006– almost 300 times more than the driller’s projected annual revenue.”

 “The oil industry’s track record across the Gulf of Mexico should be reason enough for Floridians to oppose drilling right off our coast” said Joe Murphy, Florida Program Coordinator, Gulf Restoration Network.  “Spills, pollution, industrialization, and tar balls are all part of the deal, and it would be a bad deal for Florida.  Our coastlines support a fishing industry and tourism industry that is the envy of the nation, and that is too valuable to place in the hands of the oil industry.” 

 The Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition’s Factsheet discusses issues such as oil drilling byproducts, oil spills, ocean currents, Florida’s coastal and ocean economies, and the myth that drilling off Florida’s coasts will lower gas prices.  “Florida’s coastal water quality is critical to the economic lifeblood of Florida’s long term survival, and any economic recovery in Florida will be driven by the quality, and continued protection of our coastal water resources. People don’t visit, start new sustainable businesses, or buy homes around polluted beaches and estuaries”, stated George Jones, Executive Director, Indian Riverkeeper. 

 Florida’s world renowned beaches support coastal economies and also provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered species “These beaches host 90% of all the marine turtle nesting in the United States”, said Gary Appleson, Policy Director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the world’s oldest marine turtle conservation organization. “These beaches are already under threat from inappropriate shoreline development and coastal erosion. As Florida works to reduce these threats it should not be adding new ones posed by oil drilling.”

 “Any spills from peninsular Florida could rapidly move to the coral reefs and mangrove forests of the Florida Keys and southeast Florida via the Loop Current, (a major ocean current in the Gulf of Mexico) creating a major ecological and economic disaster for our state”, said Paul Johnson, Programs and Policy Director for REEF RELIEF, based out of Key West, Florida. “What is needed is a comprehensive national energy policy in concert with marine spatial planning of existing ocean activities and resources, before Florida moves forward with any consideration of offshore oil and gas”.

 To view the Coalition’s Factsheet, go to www.flcoastalandocean.org or see attached.    

Final Fact Sheet 2-11-2010[1]

#  #  #

The Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition is comprised of national and statewide organizations working together to preserve the saltier and sandier sides of Florida.  For more information please visit the Coalition’s website www.flcoastalandocean.org

Media Advisory
 
For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                     Contact: Cathy Harrelson, 727-415-8805
February 9, 2010                                                                                                                                                              Phil Compton, 813-841-3601
Hands Across the Sands Saturday
Pinellas Legislators, Coastal Businesses and Residents Join Together &
Speak Out Against Threat of Big Oil to Way of Life on Gulf Beaches
 
Florida’s beaches today face an unprecedented threat from Big Oil’s determined drive to drill in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Saturday February 13th thousands of Floridians from every walk of life and political persuasion will join hands at 1:30pm on more than 80 Florida beaches to defend those beaches from the threat of offshore & nearshore drilling to our coastal environment and economy.
 
Prior to the Hands event, Pinellas County elected officials will join with local businesses at noon to explain why Florida’s coastal economy must now be protected in both Tallahassee and Washington
 
WHEN:           Saturday February 13, 2010, 12:00 noon
WHO:             Pinellas County Elected Officials
WHAT:           Hands Across the Sand press conference with Pinellas elected officials
WHERE:        Sirata Beach Resort, 5300 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Scheduled to speak at the noon press conference at the Sirata Beach Resort are:
·        Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, District 7
·        Senator Dennis Jones, D.C., Florida District 13 (R-Seminole)
·        Senator Charlie Justice, Florida District 16 (D-St. Petersburg)
·        Rep. James C. “Jim” Frishe, Florida District 54 (R-St. Petersburg)
·        Rep. Rick Kriseman, Florida District 53 (D-St. Petersburg)
·        Shahra Anderson, Regional Director, office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
·        St. Petersburg City Councilman Karl Nurse
Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, Florida 10th Congressional District (R-St. Petersburg), has also been invited.
 
Drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico has been considered for years, but never more seriously than today, with debate in both the US Senate and Florida State Legislature to occur in the next few weeks. Floridians are sounding the alarm statewide and joining hands in an outpouring of support to protect America’s best beaches and the $65 billion tourist industry sustained by our coastal environment.
 
Directions to press conference at Sirata’s beachfront North Deck: Enter Sirata Beach Resort entrance, turn right, driving under registration portico. Right, then left past Avis building, another left to park near yellow wall with sign for “north deck” on left (beach access is on the right).
 
Visuals: Bi-partisan unity among local elected officials, joined by business leaders and owners from Gulf Blvd.’s beach resorts, on issue of defending Pinellas beaches from oil drilling, standing together on world famous St. Pete Beach at Sirata resort, with view of Tradewinds resort next door.
 
Note: Hundreds of participants in nearby Hands Across the Sands events will begin gathering at 1:00 pm to join hands from 1:30 – 1:45. Separate advisory will highlight local events.
 
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
 
 
 
Phil Compton, Regional Representative, Sierra Club Florida Regional Office
111 2nd Ave. NE, Ste. 1001, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-824-8813, ext. 303      813-841-3601: cell

Public News Service-FL nc@publicnewsservice.org]

February 10, 2010

A Line in the Florida Sand

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Saturday, thousands of Floridians will literally draw a line in the sand to fight near-shore oil and gas drilling. The “Hands Across the Sand” protest is aimed at putting the brakes on a proposal many feel will damage the environment and jeopardize Florida’s beach-dependent tourism industry.

Organizer Dave Rauschkolb says people will be holding hands, along beaches from Pensacola to Key West and Miami to Jacksonville, to make a point about Florida’s ecology and economy.

“Every Chamber of Commerce from Pensacola to Panama City Beach has passed resolutions against oil drilling.”

The group Defenders of Wildlife predicts that a bill to allow drilling off the Florida coastline will be the defining issue of the legislative session that begins in March; a similar measure failed last year when the state Senate refused to consider it.

Supporters of drilling say it would help ease the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and create jobs, but Shannon Miller with Florida’s Defenders of Wildlife chapter, warns the potential damage is not worth the gamble.

“It will leave us with damaged coastal and marine habitats and lead us away from a healthy, sustainable and renewable energy future.”

Rauschkolb adds Florida’s beaches are the key to the state’s economic health, and doing anything that might endanger them is a foolish risk.

“Florida’s legacy is clean water, clean beaches, sunshine, lots of fun – and why would we want to risk that coastal legacy?”

Participants in Hands Across the Sand will gather at their local beaches at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 13. For more information about the protest, see www.handsacrossthesand.org.

Special thanks to Richard Charter