Castor re-files bill that would permanently ban oil drilling off the coast of Florida

Tampa area Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor re-filed her Florida Coastal Protection Act bill today, which would prohibit oil drilling, leasing, preleasing and any related activities off the Gulf coast and the Straits of Florida. Castor filed the bill to ban oil drilling and leasing activities permanently (Currently the law banning offshore drilling 235 miles off the coast runs through 2022).

“The Deepwater Horizon oil disaster has confirmed my worst fears about the potential ramifications of oil drilling off of Florida’s coast,” Castor continued. “We must act now to protect Florida’s economy and environment. The Deepwater Horizon disaster is having a devastating impact on Florida and other Gulf Coast states. Now that the oil is in the loop current, the Florida Keys, Florida Straits and our nation’s East coast are under threat.”

Today Florida Senator Bill Nelson also has been able to persuade BP to now show a permanent live feed of the oil leak deep inside the Gulf of Mexico.  You can access that here.

This article appears in May 20-26, 2010.