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Nelson's anti-drilling fight goes today to Florida Panhandle

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 15, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson takes his campaign against near-shore oil drilling today to the Florida Panhandle, where rigs could appear as close as 10 miles to shore under an advancing Senate proposal.

A Senate committee voted 13-10 this past week to permit the oil industry to set up rigs 45 miles off Florida's Gulf coast and as close as 10 miles to the Panhandle shoreline.

Nelson, who appeared Friday in Tampa with charts and photographs to argue publicly against the plan, is taking his show to Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola.

"I don't think Florida should have to trash its coastline and its $65 billion economy just so big oil can increase its profit margin," Nelson said in an e-mailed statement.

The senator is expected to emphasize the potential impact on offshore military training in the eastern Gulf near Pensacola, Panama City and Fort Walton Beach. In Tampa on Friday, he displayed a 2005 letter from former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, suggesting that oil drilling in the area conflicts with military activity.

"The operative policy and law of the United States is to use much of the eastern Gulf of Mexico as the last remaining training range for our military pilots," Nelson said. "Give that up to the oil boys and you sacrifice national security."

The energy bill is expected to reach the Senate floor, where Nelson is vowing to block it if it contains the oil drilling provision.

Reporter William March contributed to this story. Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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