Public forum on proposal to allow oil drilling well attended

February 5, 2010

Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

More than 150 people attended the public forum on proposed legislation to allow drilling off Florida coast Feb. 4 at South Walton High School Feb. 4.

There were three presenters on the panel, Eric Draper, deputy director of Audubon Florida was at the forum speaking against the proposed drilling on behalf of protectfloridasbeaches.org. David McLain, senior policy director for Apalachicola Riverkeeper, also spoke against proposed drilling. As a former oil spill clean up expert, McLain spoke about the impact of an oil spills on Florida’s coastlines and estuaries. Eric Hamilton, Associate Director, Florida Petroleum Council, spoke in support of the proposed drilling.

Hands Across The Sand, a peaceful protest against the proposed drilling legislation is slated for Feb. 13. For more information, click here

presentation was quite weak, as he had no good answers on the risks. Eric Draper was great as he spoke about what Fla. really is and the importance of protecting our beaches. I liked his quote…”Can Floridian’s afford to bet the farm?” David McLain was wonderful as well talking about …The E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center sponsored the event.