Lot of Talk, Little Action in Coastal Oil Spill Cleanup

WKRG.com News

More frustration on the gulf coast tonight as we have few answers about what coastal communities see as major issues in their recovery from the BP oil spill. There were a lot of high hopes for a work session but in the end it seems like there are only more frustrations.

Part of a tar mat taken out of the surf of West Beach lies on the front table of the council chambers in Orange Beach. It is what so many are concerned with along the gulf coast.

Federal incident commander and Coast Guard Captain James Hanzalik has seen it before. "I've been doing oil spills for 25 years. It's not surprising that you may see something like this especially the large volume of oil that was spilled. It's historic."

It's one of the issues that state and local leaders from Alabama and Florida hoped would be addressed during a working session with Coast Guard and BP officials according to Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon. "Tar mats, they looked at me like a deer in the headlights. They did not acknowledge there was any tar mats out there. They told me to call them if I found one."

Read more...

Oil lurks beneath sand six months later

Shea and Corey Lopez on the Oil Spill in Their Home State

High Risks, Florida Steps Back From the Brink, and Tourists Covered With Oil

NATIONAL

No Return To Offshore Oil
http://www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/Commentary/NoReturnToOffshoreOil/tabid/11884/Default.aspx
“The U.S. Minerals Management Service’s somewhat outdated estimate is that untapped offshore reserves could hold 18 billion barrels of oil — about two and a half years’ worth at the current rate of domestic consumption. […] Offshore oil is a bad bargain with high risks and only limited rewards.”

Offshore Drilling Is No Joke: Environmental Risks Of Obama's Plan
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5614744-offshore-drilling-is-no-joke-environmental-risks-of-obamas-plan

No Offshore Oil Drilling: Committee Against Oil Exploration (CAOE)
http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/637/1/

FLORIDA

Fla. House Panel To Consider Offshore Drilling
http://cbs4.com/local/House.panel.bill.2.1637108.html
“Friday, a House committee will consider a bill that would allow exploration and drilling within 3 miles of the coast, possibly close enough to see the rigs from shore. The proposal would require that rigs and platforms stay at least six miles from shore although could slant their drills three miles closer, to bring oil to the surface from within 3 miles of the shoreline.”

Sponsor drops Fla. offshore drilling plan for now (this is an update on the story above)
http://www.onn.tv/news-feed/associated-press/sponsor-drops-fla-offshore-drilling-plan-for-now/

Save Florida’s Coasts from State and Federal Oil Impacts (Surfrider Suncoast Chapter Action Alert)
http://suncoastsurfrider.org/2010/04/take-action-today-and-wednesday/

NORTH CAROLINA

N.C. Dems debate Jimmy Buffett lyrics
http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in-the-know/36-news/3451-nc-dems-debate-what-it-means-to-be-covered-in-oil
When the topic of offshore oil drilling came up, Cunningham said: "If you go swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, you come out covered in oil."

Oil Drilling - Dependence and Dangers

NATIONAL

Oil drilling encourages dependence, enemies

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/29/oil-drilling-encourages-dependence-enemies/

FLORIDA

Oil drilling dangers in Florida waters

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-offshore-disaster-lessons,0,3334917,full.story

Arctic Spills, Florida Drills and Peak Oil

ALASKA

Shell could face more delays on offshore plans
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/030510/loc_img10_001.shtml

Federal Government To Pay Bill For Oil Drilling Risk Research
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2010/03/06/federal-government-to-pay-bill-for-oil-drilling-risk-research/
Yesterday, Amy Merten of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, warned of the consequences of a lack of adequate research on how to deal with oil spills from offshore drilling in the Arctic. “We know that we will have a spill in the Arctic. It’s just a matter of when,” she said.

FLORIDA

P.C. military officials give views on oil drilling
http://www.newsherald.com/news/drilling-81988-military-officials.html

South Walton County man takes fight against offshore drilling to Facebook
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/walton-26587-offshore-beach.html

Offshore oil exploration numbers don’t add up for Florida
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/mar/07/offshore-oil-numbers-dont-add-up-florida/

Another push for offshore oil drilling looms
http://www.bradenton.com/2010/02/28/2090186/another-push-for-offshore-oil.html

NATIONAL

Sustainable Energy or Offshore Oil?
Will More Drilling Result in Lower Prices at the Pump?
http://international-environmental-affairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/offshore-oil-drilling

Gas Crisis 35 Years Later – No Difference – Who Remembers Gas Crisis of 1973
http://gasoline.doodig.com/2010/03/07/gas-crisis-35-years-later-no-difference-who-remembers-gas-crisis-of-1973-2/

Peak Oil
Have we reached a tipping point in the global oil supply?
http://www.takepart.com/issues/peak-oil/17009

Lots of good references and "take action" tools here

Resolved Against Drilling in FL

View Resolved Against Drilling in a larger map

Despite Reports of Little Oil and Little Support from Coastal Residents, Florida Moves Closer to Offshore Drilling

FLORIDA

Oil drilling bill introduced in Senate
http://legislaturetoday.blogs.heraldtribune.com/10023/oil-drilling-bill-introduced-in-senate/
Read the bill: http://flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb2622.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Senator Haridopolos introduced this legislation over the weekend. It would allow drilling within 3 miles of the coast and would take effect on July 1, 2010.

House will ban drilling platforms visible from shore
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100301/GREEN/100301023/1075/House-will-ban-drilling-platforms-visible-from-shore

Offshore oil bill is viewed as risky
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100228/NEWS01/2280316/1006

Offshore Florida oil: Not much there, there
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/02/offshore-florida-oil-not-much-there-there.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fpolitics%2Fpoliticalpulse+%28Central+Florida+Political+Pulse%29
“A new report says drilling in Florida waters would “have no discernible impact” on gas prices or the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but could pump millions into state coffers. […] However, the report also said that the state’s estimated oil reserves – less than 100 million barrels – would satisfy the U.S. demand for oil for less than a week.”

Report says oil supplies in Fla. waters negligible
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6887948.html
“Estimated reserves in Florida waters would provide the United States with less than a week's worth of oil and have no discernible effect on prices at the pump or U.S. reliance on foreign oil, says a report released Friday as part of a state Senate review of whether a ban on offshore drilling should be lifted.”

In Florida, support for offshore drilling depends on where you live
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/28/1504466/in-florida-support-for-offshore.html
“When it comes to drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, it's as if there are two Floridas. The people who live and work along the Gulf Coast tend to oppose it. Counties and cities around the state's western rim -- including Pinellas County, Largo, Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor -- have passed resolutions opposing offshore drilling. Much of the support for the Legislature lifting the state's longtime ban on offshore drilling is coming from the state's inland areas, where no swimmer will ever encounter a tarball.”

CALIFORNIA

PXP and EDC: A Grand Plan
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/mar/01/pxp-and-edc-grand-plan/

Decisions Nearing; Oil Companies Lobbying; Fishermen Worried

NATIONAL

Interior Secretary Sees Offshore Leasing Plan in 30-45 Days
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100219-713491.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesEurope

Salazar closes in on offshore drilling decision
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/82385-salazar-closes-in-on-offshore-drilling-decision

CALIFORNIA

Oil company spending lavishly to get around Carpinteria law
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik21-2010feb21,0,3506662.column
This is proposed onshore drilling, but it affects coastal and offshore resources.

FLORIDA

Florida legislators consider lifting ban on offshore drilling
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/02/19/1144607/florida-legislators-consider-lifting.html

VIRGINIA

Va. Senate backs bill to send offshore-drilling cash to transportation, environment
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/DRILGAT22_20100222-130201/326049/
“What a difference a few days makes. Voting 21-19, the Virginia Senate today backed legislation earmarking cash from offshore oil and gas exploration for education, the environment and transportation. The Democrat-controlled Senate had rejected a similar bill earlier in the 2010 session, largely to send a message to Gov. Bob McDonnell to go public on his remedy to the state's fiscal crisis. The House bill passed this afternoon and the defeated Senate measure are largely symbolic measures. That's because it will be years, if ever, before Virginia sees royalties from offshore drilling.”

Uncertainty not worth spoiling coast
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/opinion/columnists/article/uncertainty_not_worth_spoiling_coast/52592/

NORTHEAST

Tribes concerned about loss of fishing due to oil spills
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/02/22/tribes-concerned-about-loss-of-fishing-d?blog=53
“After having been essentially excluded from the commercial fishery in Nova Scotia for some time, Aboriginal fishermen have seen a dramatic growth in their ranks in the past ten years and they are worried that this productive period could come to an abrupt end by the dangers posed by recent moves to approve oil and gas production on Georges Bank.”

Waiting for Drilling Decisions, But Why Wait for Conservation?

Florida

Experts: 2010 may not be make, break for drilling
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DU20F82.htm

East Coast

US Reviews East Coast Exploration Timeline
http://www.energyintel.com/DocumentDetail.asp?document_id=659078
“In a letter to Congress, the Interior Department said it will complete the necessary steps to plan for the possibility of "multiple geological and geophysical activities" in federal waters off the US East Coast in two years. The department plans to hold environmental reviews, scoping meetings, and public comment periods before issuing a final decision on offshore energy activities in the Atlantic by April 2012. Any exploration drilling would not occur until at least 2014.”

National

Offshore Oil Drilling Will Not Make Us Conserve Oil
http://oceanswavesbeaches.blogspot.com/2010/02/offshore-drilling-will-not-make-us.html
“The way to address an addiction is to seek alternatives to the addiction. We need to stop producing large, wasteful vehicles. We must embrace the fact that we are running out of a natural resource and act accordingly. We can not drill our way out of this problem. Offshore drilling wouldn't even allow us to top our cars off, we'd only get 10% from offshore drilling and the trade-off is massive as we would put coastal economies and ecosystems at risk.”

Drill Off the Gulf Coast of Florida? - Consider This

One of our activists in Florida recently sent this response to a supporter of new offshore oil drilling:

Thanks for your letter.

You mentioned the Ixtoc 1 blowout in the Gulf. That spill released over 140 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001451.html

This summary explains why environmental impacts were not as great as they could have been. Location and prevailing currents made for a lucky break - there was plenty of time to prepare before the mess came near shore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixtoc_I

Depending on the location of a blowout in the eastern Gulf, plus winds and currents, Florida's coastlines and sea life could be damaged for a generation. See NOAA study here as to oil impacts on mangroves. The only mangrove communities in the continental U.S. are in Florida (the entire west coast of Everglades National Park) and the study explains in detail why this ecological community would be the very worst place any sized spill could happen.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/34_mangrove_complete.pdf

See also photos of major oil spill off the Australian coast this past summer from 'state of the art' oil rig only a couple of years old.
http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/wa-news/the-west-atlas-oil-spill/20090829-f34l.html?selectedImage=0

This NOAA image of the Gulf of Mexico shows the basic Loop Current - always subject to change depending on weather conditions:
http://www.texaspelagics.com/GOMocean/GOM_LoopCurrent.jpg

Offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf near Florida could well be a nightmare waiting to happen. Both the ecology and the economy of Florida would be hit very hard by a major spill. The risk is too great - the rewards much too small.

Finally, see this study which shows how even routine offshore oil drilling operations impact the ecosystem and sea life:
http://www.offshore-environment.com/oilbedford.html

Gearing Up for Hands Across the Sand in Florida; Virginia Senate Says 'Not So Fast' to Governor McDonnell

Florida

Florida beach towns plan protest against oil drilling
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1472187.html

Offshore oil drilling forum draws more than 125 on both sides of the issue (includes video)
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/feb/09/offshore-oil-drilling-florida-forum-naples-news/

SWFL leaders back and forth on offshore drilling
http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=11959158

Florida Today Editorial: Hands Across the Sand (reefrelieffounders.com)
http://www.reefrelieffounders.com/drilling/2010/02/10/florida-today-editorial-hands-across-the-sand/

Hands Across The Sand Offshore Oil Drilling Protest (Eye on Miami)
http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2010/02/hands-across-sand-offshore-oil-drilling.html


Virginia

State Senate defeats bill on offshore drilling
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/govtpolitics/article/state_senate_defeats_bills_on_offshore_drilling_changing_budget_timeline/80421/
"There [was a] major setback today in the Virginia Senate for Gov. Bob McDonnell, with the Democratic majority defeating legislation endorsing offshore drilling for oil and gas..."

Hands Across the Sand in Florida; Beaches Protected for a Decade in Oregon

Florida

Hands span coast against offshore oil drilling
http://www.pnj.com/article/20100209/NEWS01/2090315/1006/NEWS01/Hands-span-coast-against-offshore-oil-drilling

Take Action this Saturday to Save Florida's Coasts from Oil Impacts
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/environmental-letter/take-action-this-saturday-to-save-floridas-coasts-from-oil-impacts_40921/

"Hands Across The Sand" (Opinion Matters blog)
http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/opinion/2010/02/hands-across-sand.shtml


Oregon

Supporters cheer Oregon House vote to ban off-shore drilling for 10 years
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/supporters_cheer_house_vote_to.html

Offshore Oil - Bad Deals, Bans and Protests

California

Don't trade oil for parks
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14352149

Oregon

Oregon House votes for 10-year ban on off-shore oil and gas drilling
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/oregon_house_votes_for_10-year.html

Florida

A 'human line in the sand'
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/columnists/a-human-line-in-the-sand-216473.html
“Floridians who don't want oil drilling as close as 3 miles head for the beaches this Saturday for the simplest demonstration ever.”
Also: Join hands to prevent Gulf drilling
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100207/LETTERS/100209780?Title=Join-hands-to-prevent-Gulf-drilling
“Our goal is to persuade legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist to drop the folly of offshore oil drilling. All it takes is one accident -- one oil spill. It is just not worth the risk to our environment and coastal tourism industry.”
Also: Protest aims at oil drilling
http://keysnews.com/node/20676

Virginia

Virginia's misguided rush to drill offshore
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-op_drilling_0207feb07,0,6391655.story
“In the heated debate over offshore drilling, policymakers have […] largely ignored the coastal environment and economies that would be subjected to potential harm from new offshore drilling such as off Virginia's coast. […] It is disturbing that in their rush to drill, oil and gas drilling advocates in Virginia would oppose prudent studies on the impact of drilling on our precious Chesapeake Bay, our sensitive coastal wetlands, and our highly lucrative tourism and fishing industries that are completely dependent on clean beaches and healthy ocean waters.”

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story
The space agency, which operates a launching facility on the Virginia shore, says drilling would pose a safety risk because of the rigs' proximity to where rocket components fall into the Atlantic."You'd think 50 miles out would not be a problem," NASA spokesman Keith Koehler said. "But for us, it is. It's right in the middle of our launch range."

Opposition to Offshore Drilling - East and West

NATIONAL

Offshore Drilling Will Not Wean Us Off Foreign Oil http://oceanswavesbeaches.blogspot.com/2010/02/offshore-drilling-will-not-wean-us-off.html

Offshore Oil Drilling Environmental Facts (eHow.com)
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5928010_offshore-oil-drilling-environmental.html

CALIFORNIA

Eco groups withdraw support of Calif. oil drilling
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6851425.html

Three articles on the announcement by Lt. Governor nominee Maldonado that he will vote no on the PXP project if it comes back to the State Lands Commission:

Lieutenant governor nominee to vote against offshore oil drilling plan
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/02/lt-gov-nominee-says-hell-vote-against-new-oil/
Maldo: No On Oil Drilling Plan
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2010/02/02/maldo-no-on-oil-drilling-plan/
Lt. Gov. nominee could cast vote on new oil-drilling off Calif. coast
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/02/03/Lt-Gov-Hearing/

A system in peril: Budget cutters again target the state parks
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=yltualr2mo113c&xid=yltb8biuctdlee&done=.yltualr2mol13c
“This year, rather than proposing deep, painful cuts as he has for the last two years– only to have them rejected by popular outcry – the Governor has tried a different game of political “chicken.” His latest budget proposes to eliminate all General Fund support for state parks and replace it with uncertain funding from a highly controversial oil-drilling project that has been rejected twice. The Administration proposes to cut $140 million allocated to state parks and offset it with future revenues from oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast. So, the “fortune” of California’s state parks would be inextricably linked to an oil drilling proposal that already failed to get approval – not once, but twice in 2009.”

FLORIDA

Oil drilling could hurt offshore game fishing, researchers say
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/oil-25385-drilling-researchers.html

Statewide event opposes offshore drilling
http://www.tbnweekly.com/front_page/content_articles/020310_fpg-01.txt

Protesters oppose offshore drilling
http://sealitsoc.blogspot.com/2010/02/protesters-oppose-offshore-drilling.html

Enviros Lobbying for Oil Drilling in CA? Oil for Roads in VA?

CALIFORNIA

Environmental groups battle over oil drilling
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/01/environmental-groups-battle-each-other-over-oil/
“Critics question whether the terms of the agreement can be adequately enforced. They argue if California were to allow the first new drilling in state waters since 1968 to go forward, it would send a message to the federal government that the state is now receptive to opening new oil leases off its coast.”

FLORIDA

Off Shore Oil Drilling Symposium
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/83312167.html
In a symposium held Monday a panel of eight experts from all over the nation gave their two cents. "Any time a resource is taken out of the sea bed, it has to be transported in some way and it's by pipelines. There could be a significant disruption of territorial displays," says Felicia Coleman, Director of FSU's Coastal and Marine Lab.

VIRGINIA

Offshore drilling-royalties plan advances
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/offshore-drillingroyalties-plan-advances

Oil Versus Seafood in Alaska; Protecting Beaches and a Marine Sanctuary in Florida

Alaska

Oil Versus Your Seafood: Breaking the bounty of Bristol Bay
http://news.discovery.com/earth/oil-versus-your-seafood-breaking-the-bounty-of-bristol-bay.html
"The U.S. Mineral Management Service predicts oil drilling is expected to generate $7 billion over 25 to 40 years. Yet sustainable fisheries in the bay and the southeast Bering Sea that could be affected by drilling are valued at more than $2 billion every year, according to the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. The potential for environmental disaster is real. The Interior Department’s own environmental assessment predicts one large oil spill and numerous smaller spills during the undetermined amount of time that oil projects would continue. A large spill could contaminate Bristol Bay’s shores, inter-tidal waters and fish habitat for many years. Bristol Bay is too valuable to risk harming. Let’s not sacrifice our seafood and an ecological treasure for oil."

Florida

Marine sanctuary advisors to hear drilling report
http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/183481.html
“The sanctuary council has a history of opposing any gulf drilling. A 2007 resolution declares, "We support the strongest possible protection for Florida and other fragile marine environments from the impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration and development." The council reaffirmed that position in 2009.”

Protect state's beaches, economy

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/letters_from_readers/2010-01-30/story/oil_drilling_protect_states_beaches_economy

Oil drilling bill must balance our interests
http://www.news-press.com/article/20100130/OPINION/100129044/1015/Oil-drilling-bill-must-balance-our-interests

Candidates Cold to Near-Shore Drilling http://www.theledger.com/article/20100131/COLUMNISTS/1315017/1342/SPORTS?Title=Candidates-Cold-to-Near-Shore-Drilling

Rethinking Virginia Drilling; Both Florida Candidates Oppose Drilling

VIRGINIA

US Govt pushes any drilling off Virginia past 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2610221420100126?type=marketsNews
“The Obama administration put that plan under review when it came into office, and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he will decide by this summer whether the prior Bush plan will go forward. However, the department's Minerals Management Service, which oversees offshore drilling, said the proposed Virginia leasing plan will be delayed. The department may still decide against any energy exploration in the area.”

McDonnell concerned about a new possible delay in offshore oil drilling http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/01/post_557.html
"Any delay beyond 2011 I would strongly oppose,'' McDonnell said. "A delay of a year in the lease means yet another delay in the revenue...I am dead serious about trying to make Virginia the energy capital of the East Coast. We have every God-given natural resource that a state could want to make that happen and a big piece of that goal of energy independence is offshore production of oil, gas and wind and we don't need federal government delays. We need cooperation."

Thank You, Interior Department: Oil Drilling Off Virginia Delayed Indefinitely
http://rootswire.org/content/thank-you-interior-department-oil-drilling-virginia-delayed-indefinitely

FLORIDA

Candidates for governor agree offshore oil drilling a threat
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100127/BREAKINGNEWS/100127021/Candidates-for-governor-agree-offshore-oil-drilling-a-threat
Also: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100127/CAPITOLNEWS/100127012/Poll-shows-McCollum-ahead-of-Sink-in-race-for-governor
“Proposals to drill for oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico are also pending before the 2010 legislative session. Sink said she is totally opposed while McCollum said he thinks three to 10 miles from the coast is too close, and that he does not like what he's seen so far. "This is not a proposal for offshore drilling," said Sink. "This is a proposal for near-beach drilling." McCollum said, "I'm a huge skeptic" and that an oil spill "would just completely terrorize our beaches.””

Protect Florida’s Beaches with Hands Across the Sand (Audubon of Florida)
http://audubonoffloridanews.org/?p=3767
Also: Be a Part of "Hands Across the Sand" at Shell Point Beach
http://www.wakulla.com/Announcements/Community_Service/Be_a_Part_of_%22Hands_Across_the_Sand%22_at_Shell_Point_Beach_201001269423/

CALIFORNIA

More PXP Deal Fallout
http://www.calbuzz.com/2010/01/i-jerry-how-brown-campaign-will-be-run/
“After AP picked up our story last week on the once-secret offshore oil drilling agreement between PXP oil company and the Environmental Defense Center, Calbuzzer and campaign media consultant Don Ringe worked up an animated political cartoon featuring a monologue by “Mr. PXP” about the deal, which you can find here.
And special Calbuzz T-Ridge props to KQED’s John Myers, who closely questioned Schwarzmuscle about the issue at the governor’s Monday appearance at the Sacto Press Club and offers a smart take on the exchange on his blog at Capital Notes.
Two points worth noting here: a) As Myers reports, it’s interesting to see how breezily Arnold is in abandoning the notion of “principles” when the going gets tough; b) the governor clearly formulates the deal on T-Ridge as a “budget-driven” decision, not an energy vs. environment balancing act.
That is precisely the point that most concerns many environmental opponents of the deal: that California’s landmark environmental protections should be conditioned on the ebb and flow of the budget. In other words, any time Sacramento is in the red, just suspend the Coastal Sanctuary Act or AB 32 or local development guidelines and generate some fresh cash. Laissez les bons temps rouler.
The environmentalists who support the deal, like the EDC, do not agree with this fiscal argument of Arnold’s for the deal: to them T-Ridge has always been a pathway to end some offshore oil drilling permanently, essentially by horsetrading a lease to slant drill in state waters for a promise to decommission four operations in federal waters.
But: Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas.”

Big Texas Oil Spill; Follow the Money in CA

Texas

Collision Causes Crude Oil Spill in Texas
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704562504575021540843701582.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular
The U.S. Coast Guard says about 450,000 gallons of crude oil has spilled into the Port of Port Arthur area in southeast Texas after two vessels collided. "This is a big one," said Petty Officer Third Class Richard Brahm. The Port Arthur spill can be described as large, according to the classification established by the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd., which tracks oil spills around the world. According to the ITOPF, large spills are those that are over 700 metric tons. The size of the Port Arthur spill is estimated at about 1,500 metric tons. The spill is the second to afflict the Texas coastline recently; in October, a supply vessel crashed against a Liberian-flagged oil tanker offshore of Galveston, resulting in an 18,000 gallon oil spill—equivalent to about 429 barrels of oil or 58 metric tons.

Texas Spill: Oil and Water Still Don't Mix (Mother Jones)
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/01/texas-spill-nope-oil-and-water-still-dont-mix?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+motherjones%2FTheBlueMarble+%28Mother+Jones+%7C+The+Blue+Marble%29
“In a healthy dose of irony, the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce's motto is, "Where oil and water mix, beautifully." Proponents of drilling often tout how environmentally friendly their practices are these days. But Saturday's spill is a healthy reminder that no matter what you do to oil, there's nothing very green about it.”

California

AP Article Says Environmentalists Paid Thousands By Oil Company
http://www.keyt.com/home/ticker/82431007.html
Oil company, environmental groups in secret deal
http://calcoastnews.com/2010/01/oil-company-environmental-groups-in-secret-deal/

Maldonado and Nava clash over offshore oil
http://calcoastnews.com/2010/01/maldonado-and-nava-clash-over-offshore-oil/

Firms, trade group helped fund GOP legislators' retreat
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-junket24-2010jan24,0,7805604.story
“Chevron and other oil companies have long battled a proposed oil-extraction tax. One such proposal was vetoed last year by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.Asked why Chevron donated the money for the retreat, Comey said, "We wanted to attend the event and we made the contribution." He added that the firm supports such conferences for legislators of both parties "to facilitate their ability to reinvigorate the economy."Plains Exploration would have been the major benefactor of a bill last year to open the door to more oil drilling in the Tranquillon Ridge field off the coast of Santa Barbara County. Fourteen of the 15 Republicans in the state Senate voted for the legislation. The bill failed, but the proposal is back in Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for the next fiscal year.The company sent a representative to the retreat "to get the message out on the Tranquillon Ridge project," Plains Exploration spokesman Steve Rusch said.”

Florida

Offshore drilling resolution delayed again
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/offshore-drilling-resolution-delayed-again/1067505
“Commissioners agreed with the draft's main premises: that the city's economy relies heavily on tourism revenues tied to the beaches, especially the centerpieces of Honeymoon and Caladesi islands, and that oil wells within 3 miles of the coastline could risk Dunedin's "largest industry and quality of life."”

Nelson: Oil drilling is incompatible with military training
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/01/nelson-oil-drilling-is-incompatible-with-military-training.html
"It remains the Defense Department's policy that military exercises and training in the eastern gulf are incompatible with oil drilling operations.''

More Critcism of Oil-for-Parks in CA; More Threats to the Beaches in FL

Oil-for-parks plan derided as blackmail (CA)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/22/oil-parks-plan-derided-blackmail/

Senators push to bring oil drilling closer to Florida’s coast
http://politics.remedy.org.ua/c5b176b4/
“This isn’t even thinly veiled,” Nelson said. “Its an oil industry bailout plan.”

Offshore Drilling Language Poses Problems for 'Energy Only' Bill
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/01/22/22greenwire-offshore-drilling-language-poses-problems-for-73614.html
"We need a balanced energy menu with vegetables and protein, not just a pile of Cool Whip."