CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. — "Don't Drill Florida" was the message to federal officials as they mull plans to open more U.S. coastlines to offshore oil and gas drilling.
Government officials, business leaders and other community leaders spoke at a press conference on Friday on Clearwater Beach. They opposed a federal proposal to expand offshore drilling off Florida's Gulf Coast.
WATCH: 'My livelihood is over': Pleas to stop proposed offshore Gulf drilling
"For the first time, this proposal includes a new drilling zone in the eastern Gulf, located dangerously close to Florida’s coast," said Charlie Justice, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. "It’s a significant expansion, about the size of the state of South Carolina, and it threatens the Gulf that we know and love.”
Justice shared concern that it poses a threat as an ecological disaster, putting at risk the waters, wildlife and beaches that define Florida and draw so many people to the state.
“Our beaches support working people, individuals and small businesses, who rely on a clean, healthy coast to make a living. A single major oil spill could shut all of that down overnight," said St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch. "I can tell you it doesn’t matter if the spill affects the panhandle or not. When folks think Florida is impacted, they cancel visits to Florida across the board.”
Leaders called this a bipartisan effort.
Watch full press conference
“It’s not just about protecting our environment," said Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector. "It’s about protecting the livelihoods and the lives of all of our residents here and tourism and maintaining this beautiful water, pristine as it is. It’s very important to all of us, whether you ever come out here on the beach to enjoy it or not."
“Expanding offshore drilling in the state of Florida is a risk that we can’t afford to take," said State Representative Linda Chaney (House District 61). "This is a $134 billion industry that could be impacted by an unfortunate oil spill, which we have seen happen in the past."
Community members also called for permanent protections and lasting solutions.
“The bottom line is we really need to protect our natural resources, and we’re doing a much better job than we ever have, and we don’t need to go backwards," said Frank Chivas of Baystar Restaurant Group.
Captain Dustin Pack with Fly Tide Charters referenced 2021 when water from Piney Point discharged into the bay and the subsequent Red Tide to show the impact our water quality has on businesses and tourism.
“If we have oil drilling out here, my livelihood is over," said Pack. "One spill can wipe all this out in one day."
In December, Tampa Bay 28 State Capitol reporter Forrest Saunders said Florida members in Congress were united in opposition to drilling. They urged the public to weigh in on the plan before Jan. 23.
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