[thackney]

I myself was unaware of any oil drilling in or near the Everglades

Yep, been their for decades without problems. But don't let that cloud your vision of how bad drilling would obviously be.

[sargon]

It's been there for decades without problems, and without publicity. And it's on a small scale.

Any large scale use of the Everglades for oil drilling would be widely opposed. There is simply no doubt about that in my mind, as a 46-year resident since my birth.

The fact that large-scale or widespread oil operations would never occur is the only thing that saves Bachmann here.

Let any Presidential candidate try to make a big public issue about the topic and see what happens to them in Florida... it's political suicide.

[sargon]

These sites produce comparatively little oil, about 1,800 barrels a day from 5 operating wells, and the crude oil is generally low-grade and high in sulfur content.

The major concern from environmentalists is of further human and industrial incursions into this delicate ecosystem.

I would venture to say that the "major concern" of "further human and industrial incursions into this delicate ecosystem" extends to the general citizenry of the state, not just so-called environmentalists.

Like I said, widespread or large-scale drilling in the Everglades simply will never happen, and Bachmann should just move on from the issue...