The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a letter Tuesday opposing oil drilling and energy exploration in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, warning that such activities would threaten military readiness at Eglin Air Force Base and harm the region’s tourism-dependent economy.
- Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who serves on the Defense Strategic Initiative board, brought the matter to the commission during their Nov. 18 meeting, expressing concern about drilling proposals despite their potential impact on Eglin’s mission.
“We cannot drill in the Gulf, especially the Eastern Gulf,” Ketchel said. “It’s 70% of our economy and they [military] will not stay if we drill because it just completely ruins the mission field.”
The letter, which will be sent to President Trump and the state’s entire legislative delegation including Senator Rick Scott, emphasizes that the Eastern Gulf test range is “the largest military training range in the continental United States, vital to the operation readiness of our military.”
According to the letter, the range supports training for all branches of the armed forces with operations in air, water, surface and subsurface domains. It also serves as a critical site for advanced weapon systems testing and water-to-land transition exercises.
- The commission’s letter warns that oil drilling activities “are incompatible with the unique and sensitive nature of the test range” and would pose serious risks to both national security and the local economy.
The document cites data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity showing tourism contributes billions of dollars annually to Okaloosa County and supports thousands of jobs. Many visitors are drawn to the area’s natural beauty and recreational opportunities in the Gulf waters.
“The environmental impact of drilling activities could undermine the expectation, potentially harming our tourism-based economy,” the letter states.
Ketchel noted this is not the first time the county has had to address drilling concerns in the region. The county’s lobbying group will deliver the letter to federal officials.
The commission walked on the item during the meeting to allow for immediate consideration and approval. All five commissioners voted in favor of sending the letter.
One Response
“We cannot drill in the Gulf, especially the Eastern Gulf,” Ketchel said. “It’s 70% of our economy and they [military] will not stay if we drill because it just completely ruins the mission field.”
Is Ketchel, and the rest of the commision, actually naive enough to believe that the military would shutter the bases in Florida if they drill in the eastern GoA?