Fla. Senator says He’ll Block Bush Administration From Expanding Off-Shore Drilling

Thu, July 31, 2008 - 1:51 PM

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bill Nelson said today he’ll block any efforts by President Bush’s interior secretary from expanding oil drilling in federal waters, including areas off Florida and elsewhere where a congressional ban has prevented oil and gas development.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne on Wednesday announced he has directed the Minerals Management Service to begin the initial steps for developing a new five-year oil and gas leasing program for the Outer Continental Shelf. The first step of that will occur on Friday, when the agency will publish in the Federal Register a request for information from all interested parties on what areas should be included or excluded from drilling in the new program.

Currently, the government’s leasing program runs through 2012.

It does not include areas covered by the congressional ban, that Bush and GOP presidential candidate John McCain say they support lifting.

But in a letter today to Kempthorne, Nelson vowed to “to take whatever action is necessary” to prevent such a questionable step by the administration.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that President Bush is set on putting oil rigs off the state of Florida before he leaves office in January, regardless of the fact it will have no effect on energy prices,” Nelson wrote in the letter. “You and he both know exploiting our coastlines won't bring down gasoline prices.

“The answer lies in the rapid development of alternative fuels and vehicles, like cars that run on hydrogen, not petroleum,” Nelson wrote. “And the oil companies need to drill in the 68 million acres already under lease where there still is no drilling.”

Nelson invited Kempthorne to meet and discuss the issue before deciding what action he would take.

-- Billy House