President's Statement on Preserving Florida's Environment

Office of the White House Press Secretary News Release ^ | 29 May 2002 | President Bush

[PhiKapMom]

President's Statement on Preserving Florida's Environment

Florida is known worldwide for its beautiful coastal waters and the Everglades. Today we are acting to preserve both. Florida is also known for its strong commitment to preserving these extraordinary natural resources, and the federal government is a strong partner in those efforts.

Today, I am extremely pleased to announce two historic actions in the state of Florida that exemplify personal stewardship and conservation partnerships. The United States government will buy back the rights for natural gas and oil development in Destin Dome, and in critical parts of the Everglades.

These are important steps in preserving some of our Nation's most beautiful natural treasures, including Big Cypress National Preserve, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Today's action once again demonstrates that my Administration will take seriously the views of local communities. The federal government should continue to work closely with states and local communities in solving issues that affect energy security, the economy, and the environment.

I appreciate the good work of Secretary Norton and the staff of the Department of the Interior, Governor Bush and his team, the Collier family, and the private sector companies whose hard work has made these agreements possible. They have contributed greatly to our shared mission of sustained stewardship of these extraordinary natural areas.

###

[PhiKapMom]

This article is for all of the folks on here that appreciate what President Bush is doing!

[PhiKapMom]

FYI!

[Miss Marple]

Hey, if the federal government buys back those leases, that means the feds own them, and if they need them for an emergency, they can drill themselves or let the leases go on the market again. Pretty smart, IMHO. Meanwhile the Everglades are helped and everyone is happy (except for the group that will show up any minute and tell us how we should hate this because it is a cave to environmentalists, etc....just watch!)

[Clemenza]

Thanks. I have actually seen the oil wells in Big Cypress (yes, there is a small quantity of oil in Mainland Florida). Nothing has been drilled for years anyway and there is very little left.

I highly recommend walking the trails in Everglades National Park in December and January. STAY AWAY from May through October unless you want your blood sucked dry by mosquitos.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for the warning about mosquitos! Thought this was a neat deal like Miss Marple stated!

[WIMom]

I was just thinking the same thing. Crazy horse and all the other reserves are just waiting to be tapped.

[WIMom]

Thanks for the ping.

[PhiKapMom]

Decided to start fighting fire with fire and find positive Bush articles!

[Miss Marple]

Good idea! I'm in!

[Outraged]

except for the group that will show up any minute and tell us how we should hate this because it is a cave to environmentalists, etc....just watch!

Great! Bush joins the democRATS and moves us a little bit more to the left, Oh happy day. The democRATS still won't be happy and he caved with a fool move that makes us more dependent on the likes of Osama Bin Laden.

[summer]

This is huge news, and I hope people here understand what it really means: yes, there will eventually be drilling for oil, but, the drilling will take place FAR off the shores of FL's beautiful beaches, which provide an important source of revenue to the state via tourists. The distance between the drilling to come and the beaches has been WIDENED and INCREASED by the actions of the White House, so that environmentalists will be cheering, and those who want oil off FL's shores should cheer as well, because drilling will truly be OFF the shores, more than ever before.

BTW, FL beaches were just named in an independent study in the Top Ten Beaches of the Nation AGAIN, with a FL beach holding the #1 spot. CA beaches were ranked as worst in the nation.

[hchutch]

It's like a GM who can get rid of a problem player and get two or three pretty good ones. The trade's a no-brainer. The Everglads and Florida concessions have been dry holes for the most part, so not much is lost.

And we can then open up other leases elsewhere, in places we can put the hurt on Dems.

[summer]

See my post #11.

[summer]

And, see my post #11. :)

[summer]

And, in addition to what I said in my post #11, as I read a much longer press release on the FL site, there is the following news, as in the above White House release:

The United States government will buy back the rights for natural gas and oil development in Destin Dome, and in critical parts of the Everglades.

I bet some FL environmentalist groups will publicly endorse Jeb Bush for governor this year. This news above is just terrific.

[PhiKapMom]

I certainly agree with everything you have said especially that Florida beaches are #1! Thanks for your comments!

[Miss Marple]

See post #11 and #12, and then please go eat your peas.

[saminfl]

How does drilling for oil in the gulf hurt Florida's beaches. By the way, I live next to a Florida beach.

[PhiKapMom]

IMHO it only hurts if there is an accident on one of the rigs close to shore. Personally I don't think it is worth the risk! I would rather not take a chance with Florida's environment if we can go out further to drill for oil!

I am surrounded by oil wells here in OK and it doesn't bother me or the cattle/horses that graze around them.

[Outraged]

See post #11 and #12, and then please go eat your peas.

I hate peas worse than democRATS.