Senate panel gushes over bill that would limit permits for oil drilling near Florida coast

Yet another step toward limiting permits for oil drilling, extracting and exploration near the Florida coastline is gaining momentum.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government unanimously approved a bill (SB 1300) sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican. It provides “protection to consider certain factors when determining whether the natural resources of certain bodies of water and shore areas are adequately protected from a potential accident or blowout.”

The measure now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote.

It’s the second time in as many days that legislative action was taken on measures to restrict oil drilling near the Florida coast.

On, Tuesday a House panel took action too. That measure (HB 1143) from Republican Rep. Jason Shoaf and Democratic Rep. Allison Tant passed the State Affairs Committee unanimously, with three Representatives absent. The measure now sets sail for the House floor.

The bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a “balancing test” before granting a permit for oil and gas activities in areas within 1 mile of the coast or other bodies of water.

The companion bill that passed in the Senate committee Thursday came after testimony and support from residents and environmental activist organizations.

Hunter Levine, a fifth generation Floridian from Wakulla County, member of the Drifter Fish Club and a podcaster on fishing issues, said the Panhandle area where he’s from can never have too much protection.

“I’ve learned these amazing places are not an accident, they are a result of people pouring their lives into amazing communities. … But also they are a result of good policy and protection,” Levine said.

“As we consider placing protection on areas like Apalachee Bay, I would urge you to remember the significance of this place people call home,” he said.

Simon, whose district spans part of Franklin County, reminded the panel about that area of the Panhandle coastline being devastated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Simon said he doesn’t want residents to have to go through that again.

“This is absolutely impactful to my district. Franklin County after the BP oil spill was absolutely destroyed. The (fishing) industry was destroyed,” he said.

DEP would be required to consider the need to protect natural resources and weigh that against the potential harm, and whether the natural resource would be adequately protected in the event of “an accident or a blowout from oil or gas drilling or exploration activities,” according to the bill analysis.