Protect Florida's Beaches Oil Drilling Fact Sheet
Manasota 88's 'Top Ten Resons Not To Drill For Oil Offshore of Florida'

Florida's Ocean and Coastal Economies Report Phase 2
Florida has a $562 billion a year coastal economy and a $65 billion a year tourist industry. Florida's economy derives its power from its coastal regions and coastal populations. Read on for an understanding that the true foundation of Florida's economy does not mesh with speculative oil drilling.

Sport Fishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse
Florida is the number one state for anglers, with 2.8 million participants and expenditures of $4.5 billion. Oil drilling would take a bite out of that.

Coast Guard Report to Congress on Hurricane Impacts and Oil Spills
"As a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita there were six major, five medium, and over 5000 minor oil and hazmat responses. Additional minor spills continue to be identified and addressed. It is estimated that over 9 million gallons of oil were released, and this total does not include oil released from the 5000 minor spills."

Hurricanes and Oil Don't Mix
"The Gulf of Mexico is an especially hazardous location for new drilling rigs, given the frequency of hurricanes."

Impact Assessment of Offshore Facilities from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
The Minerals Management Service reports that hundreds and of platforms were damaged or destroyed, hundreds of pipelines were destroyed, as well as other critical oil infrastructure.

NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration - Incident News
NOAA's site has news, photos, and other information about selected oil spills and other incidents where NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration provided scientific support for response efforts. Of particular interest is NOAA's 'Oil Spill Case History, 1967-1991.'

Estimating Cleanup Costs For Oil Spills
"Shoreline cleanup costs ran as high as $147,000 to $294,000 per ton."

The International Tanker Owners Federation Limited - Data and Statistics
ITOPF maintains an excellent database of tanker spills worldwide.

Minerals Management Service - OCS-Related Incidents
The MMS maintains statistics for incidents and spills in federal waters, i.e. the Outer-Continental Shelf (OCS). View the panel investigation reports for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) region. "Incidents" are not rare ocurrences.

1989 Mineral Management Service and State of Florida
'Oil Spill Risk Assessment Task Force Report'

Energy Information Administration Report
"Because oil prices are determined on the international market, any impact on average wellhead prices is expected to be insignificant." Translation: the relative trickle of oil available in Florida's water would not affect Florida gas prices.

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Gulf Coast, 2007
"Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean of 690 million barrels of undiscovered oil in onshore lands and State waters of the Gulf Coast." Translation: drilling proponents' estimates of three billion barrels of oil in Florida's waters alone are gross and unjustifiable exaggerations.

The Truth About America's Energy: Big Oil Stockpiles & Pockets Profits
"The fact is that the Nation simply cannot drill its way to lower prices at the pump. Other options, from greater energy efficiencies to the development of alternative fuels, are essential to reducing dependency on petroleum fuels and lowering fuel costs."

Drilling Can't Even Lower Gas Prices
Don't buy the lies that they're selling you. Even the EIA said during Bush's oil-friendly administration that increased drilling would only lower gas prices by mere pennies, and starting around 2030. Is that how YOU would personally invest in the future?

Oil Drilling Is a Dirty Business
"Discharging, on average, 180,000 gallons per well-start of toxic drilling fluids, cuttings, and "produced waters," containing arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury."

Oil Spills in Mangroves
A NOAA document on the impacts of oil and gas spills on mangrove ecologies, including planning and response considerations.

Environmental Impact of Oil Exploration in the OCS
"The most intrusive form of man-made undersea noise short of naval warfare."

Impacts of Seismic Surveys on Marine Mammals and Fish
"Within close range, seismic surveys have been found to kill adult fish as well as larvae and fish eggs."

Determining Where Tarpon Spawn
"The most immediate potential threat to tarpon spawning is new offshore oil drilling activity."

Montara (West Atlas) Blowout and Oil Spill, Western Australia from SkyTruth

Where Drilling Goes, Dirty Beaches Follow

Hurricanes and Refineries