Martinez: Inventory Provision Remains; Energy Bill Tarnished

MARTINEZ: INVENTORY PROVISION REMAINS; ENERGY BILL TARNISHED

Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today expressed disappointment that energy bill conferees have voted to retain a provision to conduct an oil and natural gas inventory off the coasts of Florida and the entire . Senator Martinez says such an inventory will be expensive, environmentally invasive, and stunt the military's ability to train in the Eastern Gulf.

"Florida's coastlines are in danger," said Senator Martinez. "The inventory tarnishes the entire energy bill and I think this is a precursor to drilling."

The provision approved by the Senate version of the energy bill but opposed by Senator Martinez requires the Department of the Interior to conduct an inventory of all natural gas and oil resources contained in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the United States. Preliminary estimates from the Minerals Management Service indicate the cost of doing such an inventory of United States coastlines could exceed $3 billion.

"We successfully thwarted Administration attempts to roll back Florida's protections, but now that there's an inventory, there's no doubt we'll be in their sights for drilling," said Martinez. "I think we're going to fight this fight for quite some time."

Senator Martinez extended appreciation to energy bill conferees Representative Michael Bilirakis and Representative Cliff Stearns for bringing the inventory provision up for a vote during the conference committee meeting. Martinez also thanked Governor Jeb Bush for standing with Florida 's congressional delegation against any oil and gas inventory of the Outer Continental Shelf.

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