Drilling proposal protects Pinellas

Supporters of oil drilling off Florida's Gulf coast say their plan would leave waters around Pinellas and a few other counties free of derricks. But Gulf Coast lawmakers who oppose drilling say that assurance is not enough to change their minds.

Drilling has been a hot topic in Tallahassee since Speaker-designate Dean Cannon amended a bill near the end of this spring's legislative session to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling in state waters. His proposal, which stalled in the Senate, would have let companies apply to the state for leases to drill up to 10 miles - and as close as three miles - off the coast.

This week, oil industry lobbyist Frank Matthews presented House Democrats a map of environmentally sensitive areas that his clients propose keeping clear of oil rigs. Among them: the entire coastline of Pinellas County, which the state has classified as an aquatic preserve. A few other counties including Dixie, Levy and much of Taylor would receive the same protection.

"Those areas would not have structures for drilling, assuming you want to protect those areas," he said. "That's not to say you couldn't lease and extract from a remote location."

Cannon, who plans hearings on oil drilling this fall, said this week he supports protecting the state's aquatic preserves and marine sanctuaries. "I would imagine there would be a lot of consensus on that as well."

Rep. Jim Frishe, R-St. Petersburg worries that future Legislatures could repeal the protective language. Of greater concern, he said, is potential for oil spills off neighboring coastlines to drift into his district. "Ocean currents don't respect aquatic preserve lines."

The oil lobby's proposal leaves most of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties' waters open to oil rigs. Hillsborough would benefit from the protections afforded to Pinellas County, though rigs could appear along coasts of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Republican Rep. Bill Galvano, whose district includes parts of Hillsborough and Manatee, wants to expand the discussion of alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy. The drilling issue itself, he said, is "much bigger" than a few carve-outs for sensitive areas. "I don't think that would sway me."

Protections for several of the northern coastal counties that Democratic Rep. Leonard Bembry represents won't change his stance, he said.

He recounted walking the beaches of Biloxi, Miss., after a hurricane. There were no reports of an oil spill, but "everything you touched was oily," he said.