The Bush Record on Florida Offshore Drilling
In 2001, President Bush supported a plan to allow drilling a mere 30 miles from Pensacola yet this spring in a speech two days after Earth Day in Rookery Bay, Florida the President implied he'd never supported drilling off the coast of Florida. The facts clearly show that Bush not only supported drilling off the coast of Florida, but that he supported an energy bill that could lead to even more.
FACT:PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SUPPORTED DRILLING IN FLORIDA, 30 MILES FROM PENSACOLA
(1) St. Petersburg Times: "President Bush was aiming within 30 miles of the Florida Panhandle..." In an editorial entitled "The Bushes Oil Slick", the St. Petersburg Times wrote, "The governor must also have forgotten that his brother has wanted to drill much more. President Bush was aiming within 30 miles of the Florida Panhandle before ceding to an avalanche of criticism in 2002, the year Gov. Bush was seeking his own re-election." [St Petersburg Times, 4/27/04]
(2) In 2001 the Bush Interior Department Proposed Opening 6 Million Acres To Drilling Off The Coast Of Florida. On April 9, 2001 Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton sent a letter to Florida Governor Jeb Bush notifying him that the Administration was moving ahead with plans to open an area off the coast of Pensacola for drilling. She said the L-shaped area, officially known as "Lease Sale 181," "can play an important role in our national energy strategy." [UPI, 4/19/01, CNN, 4/18/01, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Press Release, 7/2/01]
(3) The Drilling Area Was 30 Miles From Pensacola. Part of Lease Sale 181 was only 30 miles from Pensacola, Florida within sight of the beaches. [St Petersburg Times, 4/19/01]
FACT: PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SUPPORTED AN ENERGY BILL THAT COULD LEAD TO EVEN MORE DRILLING
(1) President Bush Supported Passage of the Energy Bill. According to National Journal, "President Bush reiterated his support Tuesday for comprehensive energy legislation, urging Congress to finish work on a bill as soon as possible." [National Journal, Congress Daily, 3/17/04]
(2) The Energy Bill Promoted Drilling In The Gulf Coast Including Areas Under Moratorium. The Energy Bill supported by President Bush promoted drilling in the Gulf Coast, including areas which were off limits. This could include the 241 existing leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Section 321 in the Energy Bill conference report provided broad new authority for the Department of Interior (DOI) to permit energy development and support facilities anywhere on the Outer Continental Shelf, including within areas currently under a moratorium. [H.R. 6. Title III, Section 321,330, Energy Bill Conference Report, 2003]
(3) The Energy Bill Weakens State's Rights To Oppose Drilling Under Coastal Zone Management Act. The Energy Bill supported by President Bush weakened state's rights to oppose drilling. Section 325 in the energy bill attempted to weaken states' ability under the Coastal Zone Management Act to have a say in projects and federal activities that affect their coasts. [Title III Sec. 325 p. 50, Section 330 p. 57.]
(4) The Energy Bill Even Promoted Exploratory Drilling. The Energy Bill supported by President Bush even supported exploratory drilling. Section 321 in the energy bill conference report provided broad new authority for the Department of Interior to permit energy development and support leases anywhere on the outer Continental Shelf. Authorized facilities in the legislation included those which supported exploration, development, production, transportation and storage of oil and gas. [H.R. 6. Title III, Section 321,,330, Energy Bill Conference Report, 2003]
FACT: ONE ACCIDENT CAN DESTROY A COASTLINE
(1) The Oil From The Exxon Valdez Traveled 90 Miles in 7 Days. Within one week of the Exxon Valdez spill, the currents and winds had pushed the oil 90 miles from the site of the tanker, out of Prince William Sound into the Gulf of Alaska. Approximately 1,300 miles were impacted by the oil spill. 200 miles were heavily or moderately oiled (meaning the impact was obvious); 1,100 miles were lightly or very lightly oiled (meaning light sheen or occasional tarballs). [Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. 1994. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan. P.1.]
(2) MMS Report On Area 181 Said There Would be Spills and They Would Affect Florida Beaches. A July 2001 MMS (Mineral Management Services) report on Area 181 said of opening up the coast to drilling, "The proposed action is expected to result in small pollution events that could temporarily affect the enjoyment or use of some beach segments in Alabama or Florida." In 2001 the Department of Interior Mineral Management Service estimated that over the next 40 years there could be up to 870 spills of 2,000 gallons or less in Area 181. [St. Petersburg Times, 8/12/01]
"Remember also, polluted waters and oil spills know no boundaries. When there is a major oil spill, currents don't respect beaches and shorelines."
Pietro Parravano
President, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, 3/17/01
FACT: OFFSHORE DRILLING IS A DIRTY BUSINESS
(1) Rigs In The Gulf Have Experienced "Major Accidents" Resulting in 19 Deaths. Between 1956 and 1990, Chevron's rigs in the Gulf experienced 40 "major accidents" as defined by the federal government, experienced 14 gas or oil and gas blowouts, and experienced 65 fires and explosions. In fact, Chevron experienced one blowout that took over 40 days to bring under control and which released 30,000 barrels of oil into the Gulf. The accidents resulted in 19 fatalities. [Florida PIRG, Florida's Shores At Risk]
(2) Production Platforms Can Discharge Thousands Of Fluid and Metal Cuttings Into The Ocean. A single production platform, which can drill 50-100 wells, discharges over 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluid and metal cuttings into the ocean. A single exploratory rig dumps approximately 25,000 pounds of toxic metals into the ocean and a single offshore rig emits as much air pollution as 7,000 cars driving 50 miles per day. [Florida PIRG, Florida's Shores At Risk]
FACT: WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT FROM A TEXAS OILMAN?
(1) In 2001 Vice President Cheney Met With Executives From Shell and Anadarko to Discuss Opening Area 181 To Drilling. On January 18, 2001 Vice President Cheney met with two top executives from Shell Oil Co. and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. They pressed the new administration to open a huge tract in the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas exploration. Even more troubling, the head of Shell Oil was a major donor to the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000. [Washington Post, 2/27/02]
(2) The Bush/Cheney Campaign Is The Largest Recipient Of Campaign Contributions From Oil And Gas Industry in Both 2000 and 2004. From 2000-2004 the Bush/Cheney campaign received $3,964,596 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. [Center for Responsive Politics, Campaign Finance Data, 2000-2004]
(3) The Administration Has Strong Connections With Anadarko and Shell Oil. Vice President Cheney's former company Halliburton had done business with Anadarko Petroleum since 1959, while Cheney's wife, Lynn, had been a director and significant stockholder of an energy company that had merged with Anadarko. [Washington Post, 2/27/02]
(4) Lynn Cheney Received Hundreds Of Thousands After Anadarko And Union Pacific Merged. As the director of Union Pacific, when it merged with Anadarko Petroleum, Lynne Cheney received Anadarko stock worth $250,000 to $500,000, which she sold before her husband took office. [Washington Post, 2/27/02]
