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Oil and Gas Company Leases Federal Water in Gulf

Posted on: Sunday, 17 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 17--Six blocks of federal water in the Gulf closest to the barrier islands have been leased to an oil and gas company.

Three of the blocks are just three miles from Horn Island, a federal wilderness, which means a platform could be placed that close.

Leasing of the blocks took place in March and was finalized in June, as opposition to drilling within view of the Mississippi beach began to take root among residents and businessowners on the Coast.

Those who oppose drilling so close to the island national parks and the mainland say the leases are a blow, but others say it's just reason to push the issue harder.

State officials, who have been working to get drilling closer to shore, did nothing to try to stop it. They say they have nothing to do with the federal leasing. But the state is notified before the federal government sells leases near state waters and is invited to make comments.

The six blocks closest to Ship and Horn islands were among dozens of federal blocks leased in March to oil and gas companies. The federal government takes bids on the hundreds of blocks in the Central Gulf each March. The block leases are for five years so the oil and gas companies can drill in hopes of hitting oil or gas. Hundreds of blocks are open for bids; not all are taken.

But three of the leases this year will allow the placement of a gas or oil platform so close to the Gulf Coast.

Joe Sims, executive director of the Alabama-Mississippi division of the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, a trade organization, said he doesn't see what the big deal is. There are gas platforms in federal waters near Petit Bois already, and Petit Bois is designated a federal wilderness.

Mississippi Development Authority's Jack Moody said the platforms around the islands would be smaller, gas types and not easy to see from shore.

But members of the 12 Miles South Coalition and the Mississippi Chapter of the Sierra Club say they fear more gas or oil platforms any closer would clutter the horizon, compromise the national parks and jeopardize the Coast's chance to be a tier I tourist destination.

The 12 Miles South Coalition, which is working hard to sign on members and now claims to hold the majority opinion on the Coast, says it is amazed by the unresponsiveness of state and federal officials to the will of the people. It points to Florida's success at keeping drilling a good distance from shore.

But former Mississippi Land Commissioner John Ed Ainsworth and others explained the difference. Florida has worked as a state to keep drilling away from its beaches; it has negotiated with the federal government to that end.

Mississippi as a state is still trying to determine how it stands on the issue, with legislation last year encouraging drilling in state waters countered by a new push from the Coast delegation to stop it.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

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Source: The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

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