offshore drilling

Northeast Florida Congressman John Rutherford has filed a bill to prevent drilling in federal waters off Florida over the next decade.

Northeast Florida Representative John Rutherford is leading a legislative effort to prohibit seismic airgun testing the Atlantic Ocean for a decade.

Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Jacksonville Mayoral candidate Connell Crooms. He is best known as one of the members of the Hemming Park 5, who were arrested and beaten by police at a protest last year in the park over the Trump administration’s bombing of Syria (01:16).     

Seismic airgun testing by the oil industry has received approval by the Obama Administration and should commence this year, followed by potential drilling off Florida’s coast in 2017. Recently Fernandina Beach and St. Augustine joined with 25 other Eastern Seaboard towns that have passed resolutions opposing the testing. Marine scientists and environmental groups oppose drilling off Florida’s coast.

Environmental advocates and energy companies are at odds in a fight over what should be allowed in the waters of the First Coast.

In a departure from past responses to violations of the Clean Water Act, Congress is looking to disperse fines from BP in a way that will benefit the economies most affected by the spill.