On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico would be closed to new offshore drilling until at least 2017.

While Salazar noted that the central and western parts of the Gulf would remain open for potential drilling, as would parts of the arctic, he made it clear that the eastern Gulf waters near Florida and the middle and southern parts of the Atlantic coast would not be considered for further drilling for the next seven years.

With the announcement, the administration committed itself to preventing offshore drilling in federal waters around Florida. However, Salazar said the government remained open to seismic studies in the South Atlantic region, covering waters off of South Carolina, Georgia and the northern part of the Atlantic coast of Florida. Salazar added that while the area would be open to seismic studies, there would be no leasing for drilling in those waters until at least 2017.

 

“As a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill we learned a number of lessons -- most importantly that we need to proceed with caution and focus on creating a more stringent regulatory regime,” said Salazar. “As that regime continues to be developed and implemented, we have revised our initial March leasing strategy to focus and expend our critical resources on areas with leases that are currently active. Our revised strategy lays out a careful, responsible path for meeting our nation's energy needs while protecting our oceans and coastal communities.”

Salazar stressed that the administration’s policy on leasing for offshore drilling in March remained consistent in terms of the eastern Gulf.

“Much of the eastern Gulf remains under a congressional moratorium,” said Salazar to the media on Wednesday afternoon. “Congress needs to act before any legislation can take place in this area.”

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation chimed in with their thoughts on the decision.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson praised the administration for the decision.

“It’s good the president is listening to the people of Florida,” said Nelson on Wednesday morning when news broke about the decision.

“Drilling off Florida’s Gulf Coast is banned at least until 2022, under a 2006 law passed by Senator Nelson,” said Dan McLaughlin, a spokesman for Nelson.  “The senator is pleased the White House has decided rightly to keep the area off-limits.

“He hopes Florida’s next governor and the Legislature similarly will commit to protecting the state’s tourism economy and unique environment,” added McLaughlin.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor also cheered the news.

“The White House obviously learned lessons from the BP oil disaster,” insisted Castor. “Drilling for oil off of Florida’s coast poses a threat to Florida’s economy, jobs and environment. Our small businesses and hotel owners are still suffering from the devastation left behind by the BP blowout.

“Even before the BP disaster, I stressed to the administration that oil drilling off the west coast of Florida simply is not worth the risk,” added Castor. “Florida is different from other states in the Gulf Coast region because we have developed thriving tourism and fishing economies rather than industrialized our coastline.  Florida’s long-term economic health is dependent upon clean water and clean beaches. I am pleased the administration will not allow new drilling off our precious shores.”