Resolution 2018-009 RESOLUTION NO. 2018- 0 q
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING AN EXTENSION
OF THE CURRENT MORATORIUM ON OFFSHORE DRILLING IN
THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO.
WHEREAS, in 2006, Congress formally banned drilling within 125 miles of the
Florida coast; and
WHEREAS, absent a bi-partisan effort in Washington D.C. to continue this
protection of Florida's beaches, ecosystems, and economy, this moratorium will sunset in
2022; and
WHEREAS, offshore drilling and related activities, including seismic testing to
evaluate conditions for oil exploration, have no place in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The
industrial infrastructure needed to support offshore drilling, and ultimately offshore
production of oil and gas, is wholly incompatible with existing tourist-centric development
and would undermine Florida's coastal ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense fully supports extending the
moratorium on offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to protect our numerous
military bases in the panhandle and around Tampa to the Naval Air Station Key West; and
WHEREAS, lifting the moratorium would threaten Collier County's status as a
premier tourist destination and undermine its significant investments in conservations lands.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that it supports an extension of
the current moratorium on offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to Paul
Ryan, Speaker of the House, United States House of Representatives.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after motion, second, and majority vote favoring
same this 9th day of January , 2018.
ATTEST: r,f' BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DWIGHT E. B OLI ,CLERK COLLIER COUNTY, FLOIIDA
7 By-TW),3-U— ,\_/ C.'
Attest as to: Chairman' , p t, "-k y Ppm va SOLIS , CHAIRMAN
signator only. "
Ape ov d as to form and legality:
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i' Ilk
Je ' .
y A. Klatzkow
Co , ,"attorney
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2
Board of Collier County Commissioners
Donna Fiala Andy Solis, Esq. Burt L.Saunders Penny Taylor William L. McDaniel,Jr.
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5
January 10, 2018
The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker- United States House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Speaker Ryan:
On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Collier County, Florida, I present to
you a resolution unanimously adopted by the Board at their January 9, 2018, meeting:Supporting an
Extension of the Current Moratorium on Offshore Drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.
As you well know, Florida's coastlines are a major economic driver for the State. Our pristine Gulf
beaches and inviting waters of Collier County attract tourists from all over the world. As recently as
2006, Congress recognized the importance of our waters by formally banning drilling within 125 miles of
the Florida coast. Expansion of offshore drilling would be an affront to the efforts we have made over
the past decades in protecting our fragile ecosystems and maintaining clean and accessible beaches for
both residents and tourists.
As of the adoption of this resolution, the Florida Congressional Delegation has voiced widespread,
bipartisan opposition to the Department of the Interior's proposed five-year outer continental shelf plan
that would put up for auction the right to drill in areas that include the Gulf of Mexico. Our delegation,
led by Congressman Francis Rooney, seeks to extend the moratorium to prevent our Collier County
coastline from damage akin to the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill. A future, similar accident would
devastate our shallow waters, destroy ecosystems, harm fish and marine mammal populations, and
cripple our tourist-based economy.
We hope you will consider our plight and support Congressman Rooney's efforts to protect our ecology
and economy.
Respectfully,
Andy Solis, Penny Taylor,
Chairman District 4 Commissioner
District 2 Commissioner
Cc: The Honorable Francis Rooney
3299 Tamiami Trail East,Suite 303•Naples,Florida 34112-5746.239-252-8097•FAX 239-252-3602