Resolution 207-2005
RESOLUTION NO. 207-2005
RESOULUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
TO OPPOSE H.R. 6, THE ENERGY BILL
WHEREAS; The National Association of Counties has expressed strong concerns to
Congress regarding H.R. 6, The Energy Policy Act of 2003 for its disregard for state and
local land use rights and for the unfunded mandates imposed upon its citizens by shifting
the costs of cleanup from polluters to local taxpayers, and
WHEREAS; the Energy Bill contains many provisions that weaken the State's ability to
object to oil and gas activities off of Florida's coast including the weakening of the
present Coastal Zone Management Act, and
WHEREAS; Section 2010 of the Energy Bill gives the Secretary of the Interior
authority to site on the outer continental shelf not only alternative energy facilities but
also any facility related to the exploration, development, production, transportation, or
storage of oil, natural gas and other materials. This edict essentially gives the Secretary
of the Interior czar like authority to site a wide range of oil and gas facilities on the outer
continental shelf without guaranteeing state participation, specific protection or
competitive bidding, and
WHEREAS; the Energy Bill contains 39 known roll backs to protections given in
current law that will negatively effect public health, state and local rights regarding
public lands, rivers and coastal areas and compromises the rights of citizens by shielding
polluters from clean-up liability
WHEREAS; the Energy Bill contains defective product liability protection for producers
of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) preventing communities from suing MTBE
manufacturers for the contamination of our water supply and placing the costly and
retroactive burden of clean up from the oil and gas industry to state and local taxpayers
and
WHEREAS; Florida has the most MTBE spills in the country presently at 29,000 and
this bill would extinguish active suits such as the one presently filed in the City of
Pensacola, and
WHEREAS; the Tax Payers for Common Sense, a non-partisan budget watchdog group
has identified 18.7 billion in industry tax cuts within the Energy Bill which sadly
supports many present industry policies which simply perpetuate the unsustainable
practices of the past
WHEREAS; there is a growing broad based group including tax and consumer groups,
state and local governments, religious leaders, labor unions, hunters and anglers,
environmental and public health advocates and Native American tribes that oppose the
Energy Bill and recognize that the Unites States can meet the energy needs of its citizens
without sacrificing environmental protections, despoiling pristine lands and putting at
risk the needs of future generations.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MONROE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIOERS opposes H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of
2003 as presently written and call upon our Florida Senators and Members of Congress to
restore state and local government's rights and to advocate legislation and funding for
more secure, renewable and sustainable energy sources.
Mayor Dixie M. Spehar
Mayor Pro Tern Charles "Sonny" McCoy
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner David P. Rice
Commissioner Murray E. Nelson
Yes
YeR
Yes
Yes
Not present
D AND ADOPTED this 15th day of June, 2005.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By
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MONROE COUNTY ATTORNEY
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JOHN R. COLLINS
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