We here in Florida who live near the bay will never forget the year of 2010’s catastrophic failures which led to the explosion that destroyed the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, which  killed 11 people. This led to one of the biggest oil leaks in history that lasted for so many days as the world watched BP making several attempts to fix the gushing leaks while severe damage was being rendered to the normally clear blue waters, miles of sandy shores, surrounding habitats, and wildlife. The local businesses suffered serious financial setbacks.

There is no way that Floridians will tolerate the thought that its shores could be so compromised again. Floridians have been listening as to how the White House is allowing more and more US lands to be subject to oil drilling to where Florida legislators are taking action.

Here is the rest of the story…

On 4/27/17, Alex Leary of the TampaBay Times penned the following report, “Nelson, Democrats file bill to block Trump on drilling.

“In a pre-emptive strike, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)  and other Democrats today (4/27/17) filed legislation to block the Trump administration from opening up additional areas to offshore drilling.”

“Drilling near Florida’s coast poses a direct threat to Florida’s environment and multi-billion-dollar, tourism-driven economy,” Nelson said in a statement.”

“The action comes a day before President Trump is expected to sign an executive order calling for a review of drilling. Nelson says that would require the Interior Department to alter the current five-year oil and gas leasing plan that took effect earlier this year and expires in 2022. That plan prohibits oil and gas drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico or off the Atlantic Coast.”

“The new legislation would prohibit changes to the current plan. Nelson had previously filed legislation to extend the ban to 2027.”

According to the 4/26/17 New Yorker Magazine article by Margaret Hartmann, “Trump is expected to sign an order on Wednesday (4/26/17) that will direct Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review areas designated as national monuments during the last three administrations. Zinke will have 120 days to submit his proposals for scaling down or revoking the status of monuments created under the 1906 Antiquities Act.”

“Sixteen presidents have used the Antiquities Act to protect U.S. lands and waters, and while some have altered the size of monuments set aside by their predecessors, none have tried to revoke their status entirely. It’s unclear if presidents have the legal authority to do so, and environmental and Native American groups say they’re prepared to file lawsuits if President Trump alters any monument’s designation.”

“The New York Times reports that President Trump will sign a second executive order on Friday that aims to open up protected waters in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans to offshore drilling. In December, President Obama invoked an obscure 1953 law to permanently ban offshore drilling in those water, and he had previously banned drilling in the Arctic Ocean through 2022.”