This thesis examines the geology, history, law, policy and environmental effects of drilling for oil and gas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Annually, the Gulf supplies approximately 25% of the United States' oil and gas supplies. The U.S. Department of the Interior has divided the Gulf into three Planning Areas, the Eastern, Central, and Western. Historically, the Central and Western have had significantly more exploration and production activity than the Eastern due to lesser resources and Florida law and policy. Florida bases its restrictive policy toward drilling off its shores on the state's fragile ecology, economic dependence on tourism and military operations conducted in the Eastern Planning Area (EPA). Additionally, there are significantly fewer estimated petroleum reserves in the EPA. Currently, there is some exploration in the EPA on 1.5 million acres adjacent to the Central Planning Area and 100 miles from Florida's coast. Florida's government helped reduce the size of the area, known as the Lease Sale 181 area by 75% and continues to fight to maintain no leasing within 100 miles of Florida's unique shores. Environmentalists have recognized the decrease in size of Lease Sale 181 area is one of the most significant environmental victories by a state administration. Florida should continue to aggressively protect its fragile coastline, groundwater and biologic resources in all three branches of government. / A Thesis submitted to the Program in American and Florida Studies in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2003. / Date of Defense: November 7, 2003. / Government, Energy, Petroleum, Gulf Of Mexico, Coastal / Includes bibliographical references. / Dennis D. Moore, Professor Directing Thesis; Terrell K. Arline, Committee Member; Joseph F. Donoghue, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_168934 |
| Contributors | Dempsey, Angela Cote (authoraut), Moore, Dennis D. (professor directing thesis), Arline, Terrell K. (committee member), Donoghue, Joseph F. (committee member), Program in American and Florida Studies (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
Page generated in 0.0016 seconds