By Billy House/Media General News Service
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House Democrats today continue try to decide on the parameters of a comprehensive energy bill that would expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
But Florida Rep. Bill Young’s office says he’s been told that the Pentagon remains opposed to incorporating into the bill any expanded offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off Florida.
Young is the ranking Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
This morning, Young talked to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, who told him the Pentagon is months away from deciding whether to give a go-ahead to expanded drilling in the eastern Gulf, where the military trains, says Young’s spokesman, Harry Glenn.
As of now, House Democrats reportedly are cobbling together a plan that would allow drilling 100 miles off the Atlantic coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and then give states legislatures the option to allow drilling within 50 to 100 miles.
But as of today, Young was advised by England that the military still opposes a similar move regarding the Gulf, where an agreement between the Department of the Interior’s Mineral Management Services and the Defense Department sets aside space for military training at about 235 miles west of Tampa Bay. Gulf waters to the east of that line have been closed to new oil or gas leasing since 1983.
England told Young that, in these areas east of the “Military Mission Line,” the Pentagon as of today still views drilling structures and associated development as incompatible with military activities, such as missile flights, low-flying drone aircraft, and training.
A spokesman for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was not immediately available.
But Florida Rep. Bill Young’s office says he’s been told that the Pentagon remains opposed to incorporating into the bill any expanded offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off Florida.
Young is the ranking Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
This morning, Young talked to Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, who told him the Pentagon is months away from deciding whether to give a go-ahead to expanded drilling in the eastern Gulf, where the military trains, says Young’s spokesman, Harry Glenn.
As of now, House Democrats reportedly are cobbling together a plan that would allow drilling 100 miles off the Atlantic coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and then give states legislatures the option to allow drilling within 50 to 100 miles.
But as of today, Young was advised by England that the military still opposes a similar move regarding the Gulf, where an agreement between the Department of the Interior’s Mineral Management Services and the Defense Department sets aside space for military training at about 235 miles west of Tampa Bay. Gulf waters to the east of that line have been closed to new oil or gas leasing since 1983.
England told Young that, in these areas east of the “Military Mission Line,” the Pentagon as of today still views drilling structures and associated development as incompatible with military activities, such as missile flights, low-flying drone aircraft, and training.
A spokesman for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was not immediately available.