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Monroe County commissioners unanimously oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing
Summary
The board passed a resolution opposing inclusion of new offshore oil and gas leasing off Florida’s coast in the federal five-year outer continental shelf program; local environmental advocates urged unity and cited past spill harms.
Monroe County commissioners on Dec. 10 unanimously approved a resolution opposing the inclusion of new offshore oil and gas leasing off the coast of Florida in the federal five‑year national outer continental shelf leasing program.
Barry Ray, representing the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, urged the commission to speak with a single voice. “We are the Florida Keys, and we are unified,” Ray said during public comment; he referenced environmental and military readiness concerns and the Deepwater Horizon precedent. Commissioners also noted that the county’s congressional delegation had asked the federal administration to reverse its earlier proposal.
Commissioners said the resolution signals local and regional opposition to eastern Gulf lease expansion and cited military-readiness and environmental risks. The motion passed with no recorded opposition.
