Ban oil and gas exploration in Florida's state waters!

UPDATE: Proposal 91 has survived the committee process and will be placed on the ballot this November. Thank you to all the Surfrider members to provided comments, attended public meetings, and helped make sure Floridians will have the opportunity to protect our coasts! Amendment 9 would prohibit drilling, either for exploration or extraction, of oil or natural gas in state waters. This prohibition would include the ocean from shoreline to the outermost boundaries of the state’s territorial seas. The amendment would also ban tobacco vaping/e-cigarettes in enclosed indoor workplaces. If you’re wondering why vaping and offshore drilling are in the same amendment proposal, you can thank the CRC for that. The CRC claimed that too many constitutional amendment proposals would lead to voter fatigue, so they opted to “bundle” many of the amendments together. The CRC process was a long one, and Surfrider activists attended several public hearings to advocate for Amendment 9.

Every 20 years, the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice, put together a panel of individuals to look at Florida's state constitution and suggest amendments, this is called the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC). If the CRC approves a proposed amendment, it goes to a vote of the people on a statewide ballot. Right now, the CRC is considering P 91- an amendment that would ban on oil and gas exploration in our state waters (generally up to three-miles offshore, after that they become federal waters). Floridians overwhelming oppose oil and gas drilling off their coasts, the CRC should give the public the opportunity to prohibit drilling in the state constitution.

Proposal 91 bans all oil and gas exploration in Florida's territorial waters (generally up to three-miles offshore, after that they become federal waters). Read the full proposal here. We believe Floridians have the right to clean, healthy beaches free from pollution and the risk of spills from dirty, dangerous drilling. The Surfrider Foundation has publically supported this proposal in CRC committee meetings in Tallahassee, where it has sucessfully made it through all committee stops. Now the CRC will be holding public hearings across the state to gather public input on their proposals. Please join us!