*

Gov Crist Unfortunately Signs Senate Bill 360

2009-06-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

Gov. Crist had built a solid environmental record. He championed the U.S. Sugar buyout to help restore the Everglades, and he proposed Florida's first renewable energy standards. He tarnished that record Monday by signing what the Legislature named the "Community Renewal Act" but what more accurately should be called the "No Growth Management Act."

Supporters say that Senate Bill 360 will improve the state's growth management efforts by removing unnecessary restrictions in urban areas. But the bill creates a ridiculous definition of "urban area." Tiny towns, such as 400-person Briny Breezes, qualify. So would rural areas along State Road 7. In all, eight counties and 245 cities qualify, including all cities in Palm Beach County along with Stuart, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie on the Treasure Coast.

In urban areas, developers no longer will have to show that adequate roads exist to serve their projects. Large proposals no longer will have to meet rigorous Development of Regional Impact standards.

The loss of control over development will make it much harder to protect paradise. And does anyone blame Florida's economic woes on building too little? Since the Growth Management Act passed in 1985, Florida has added 7 million people.

IT IS NOW UP TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROTECT US FROM THIS BILL. They can choose to not enforce this through one of the loopholes in the bill, but our vigilance is now required.

More stories can be found below:

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=106944
http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/crist-signs-growth-management-bill
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jun/02/kenric-ward-crist-refuels-bulldozers/
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1006369.ece

Great Ocean Science Curriculum for Teachers

2009-06-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

View over 150 coral reef activities for students at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/912grade.php

Read "Southeast Florida Reef news" at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/news.php

Study over 40 species of stony corals at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/gallery.php

Watch all four of our public service announcements at www.southeastfloridareefs.net/videos.php

Septic Tanks Affect Coastal Water Quality

2009-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

While this is a CA article it can apply to Florida..

PALO ALTO – California Sea Grant researchers have strong evidence that septic tanks in Northern California are leaking nitrogen and phosphate into coastal waters that can trigger algal blooms. Reporting in the journal Limnology and Oceanography, they report finding elevated levels of these “nutrients” in the surf zone during periods of high groundwater flows to the beach.
Following one of these freshwater pulses, they observed a four-day elevation in chlorophyll-a levels – a proxy for phytoplankton concentrations. Though it is extremely difficult to attribute any single algal bloom to the presence of higher than normal nutrient levels, the general link between nutrification and algal blooms is widely recognized for both marine and freshwater ecosystems.
“Our project is one of the first in California to show definitively that septic tanks can affect coastal water quality through submarine groundwater discharge,” says Alexandria Boehm, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University.
Most research on septic systems has focused on their effects on terrestrial ecosystems, Boehm explains. The value of this project is that it shows they can also impact marine ecosystems via polluted groundwater discharging directly to the ocean.
In theory, the nutrient spikes detected in Northern California could have come from polluted creeks or runoff. This, however, is not what the scientists believe is happening because their fieldwork was conducted in summertime when, they say, groundwater is the only source of freshwater to the coast.
Fertilizers spread on lawns and crops could also potentially be sources of the nutrients they detected. Again, however, scientists rule out this possibility because of the concomitantly high levels of human fecal indicator bacteria detected in groundwater samples collected between the septic systems and shoreline. Interestingly, bacteria counts in beach water samples did not rise and fall with changes in groundwater fluxes, suggesting the beach aquifer removes pathogens, says Stanford doctoral student, Nicholas de Sieyes, the lead author of the journal article. “Some of our current research is focusing on this point.” From a scientific perspective, the researchers were not surprised to find a link between septic systems and beach water quality. “It is what we expected,” Boehm says.
The unanticipated discovery was the way in which tidal cycles modulate freshwater fluxes to the coast. Indeed, their prediction was that fresh groundwater flows would peak during spring tides, when the tidal forces of the Sun and Moon reinforce each other. Instead, the greatest pulses of exiting groundwater occurred during neap tides, when weak tidal forcing results in minimal differences between high and low tides.
In particular, they measured a fresh groundwater discharge rate of 1.2 to 4.7 liters per minute per meter during neap tides, compared with .1 to .5 liters per minute per meter during spring tides. During neap tides, nitrogen levels rose 35 percent, phosphate levels 27 percent and silicate levels 14 percent, as compared with spring tide measurements. Their technical explanation for the pattern is outlined in detail in their peer-reviewed work. The gist of it is that ocean water fills the beach aquifer during high spring tides, creating a sort of hydraulic mound in front of fresh groundwater. During low tides, all of this saltwater must drain back to sea before fresh groundwater can begin to exit. During neap tides, the absence of a formidable hydraulic mound results in a greater release of fresh groundwater to the beach during low tide, hence their results.
All of the fieldwork, which will continue into the summer of 2009, was conducted at Stinson Beach in Marin County because of the community’s interest in protecting its beach water quality.
“We don’t think our findings are unique to Stinson Beach,” de Sieyes says, noting that septic systems are common along coastal counties north of San Francisco, as well as in more densely populated areas such as Morro Bay, Malibu, Rincon and Los Osos.
In recognition of the potential environmental implications for beach, ocean and river ecosystems, the California legislature has directed the State Water Resources Control Board to establish regulations on septic systems. California and Michigan are the nation’s only two states without statewide regulations on septic systems.
Critics of the proposed changes cite a lack of data showing septic systems contribute to actual water-quality problems. “I think it’s really important for people to know that we’ve quantified the impact of septic systems on the coastal ocean at one location, that there were documentable effects on groundwater and coastal water quality and that, in general, on-site wastewater treatment is indeed an important environmental concern and may require additional regulatory attention,” de Sieyes wrote in an email exchange.

http://www-csgc.ucsd.edu/newsroom/newsreleases/2009/coastalwaterquality.html
Contact: Christina S. Johnson, csjohnson@ucsd.edu, 858-822-5334

Surf Economics of Brevard County

2009-03-09T08:38:00.001-07:00

Check out the recent update to Surfrider's Surf Economics Blog that focuses on Brevard County. Over 240 surfers were surveyed!

http://surfeconomics.blogspot.com/2009/03/surfonomics-of-brevard-county-florida.html

Emerald Coast Chapter Party for Beach Access Feb 26th

2009-02-24T05:40:00.000-08:00

Another South Florida Chapter Dune Restoration Success

2009-02-24T05:34:00.000-08:00

This was our first dune restoration of the 2009 year. It took place in Miami Beach in between 52 and 54 street and collins ave. We removed invasive scaveola plants and left it ready for planting new natives plants this summer. We were very lucky to have the support from the city of Miami Beach, the UM chapter of surfrider. Macy's employees and Sobe green also showed up and helped us out and many new members. Zephyrhills provided 10 cases of water and Wholefoods Market provided food and drinks. Thank all the people in our chapter that made this possible:
- Wyatt Porter
- Lou Lozada
- Shane Close
- Jason Biondi
- Mike Laas
- Karen Monteagudo
- Jesse Bull
- Katie Yanke
- Lauren Campbell
- Michelle and Kevin Morenza
- Natalia Acebo
- Sam Wright

El Bano Stikes Again

2009-01-30T05:56:00.000-08:00

On January 27th in Delray, FL, the Palm Beach County Chapter presented to over 200 students and teachers in the assembly about how sewage impacts our coastal and ocean waters and to witness the gigantic toilet.

OffShore Drilling Number Dont Add Up

2009-01-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article from the Greasy Monkey..

Surf-First explains why the numbers behind offshore drilling don’t add up for coastal states

By Norm Oyole, Surfing Magazine

Seven days. That’s all the time you have left to comment about oil exploration off the coast of Virginia. With the 2.9 million acres in question running virtually border-to-border, it’s a decision that doesn’t only affect “the Old Dominion” but the whole Mid-Atlantic. And Virginia’s just the first in line. With many states like California facing budget crises, legislators see revenues from offshore leases as a possible solution. Soon, we could have rigs up and down the coast, bleeding pollutants and standing ready like bowling pins for the next major hurricane, making sure no tropical system can swoop north without leaving a least a little bit of damage. Killing sea life. Tarnishing habitats. Hurting human beings. And if those aren’t issues you’re concerned about, then let’s talk in terms that everybody can appreciate: money.

Every coastal resident – fishermen and business owners, realty companies and waitresses, the school teachers and sanitation workers -- depends on a healthy beach environment for a healthy economy. In fact, in some places, it’s the sole means of income. Hell, nearly every job I’ve ever had was funded by the beach. The newspapers I delivered (late) every morning to people who wanted to live by a pristine shoreline. The dishes I scrubbed for sloppy tourists. The drinks I served for even sloppier ones. The tables I bussed. Plates I delivered. These days it’s the stories I ruin-to-order. All 100% driven by people who will pay money to play in the ocean, unknowingly spreading their wealth out to all sorts of American industries, from clothing companies to magazine printers to plate makers to chicken nugget delivery boys. I’m only one person. Add up the whole spiderweb of affected businesses and the result is billions of dollars tied back to the ocean per coastal state.

Just how much? Well, let’s take a look. Below is just a quick list pirated on-line per-state:

New Jersey: “Coastal tourism comprises more than half of New Jersey's $27.7 billion tourism industry . . .and supports nearly 500,000 jobs while indirectly generating $16.6 billion in wages and $5.5 billion in state tax revenue.”

Florida: “The state had 75.6 million visitors in 2002, with beaches being the number one tourist attraction. Beach tourism generates about $15 billion a year to the state's economy.”

California: “Users of California beaches spent over $61 billion in 2001, of which approximately 36% was spent by out of state visitors. Additionally, California's beaches generate over $15 billion annually in tax revenue.”

South Carolina: “Visitor spending on travel and tourism in 1999 was well over $8.8 billion, with $6.6 billion coming from out-of-state and international visitors. In 1998, coastal tourism had a statewide economic impact that totaled $7.5 billion in expenditures and output. South Carolina beaches generate $1.54 billion in wages and earnings.”

North Carolina: “In 2002, the 8 counties directly bordering the Atlantic Ocean contributed $15.226 billion in tourism revenues of which approximately $12.538 billion is directly generated from the beaches.”

Now those aren’t quotes offered by Sierra Club, Surfrider or some other left-wing dune-hugging website. They’re ripped straight from The Marlow Co., a consulting group that specializes in beach nourishment. (What we dune-huggers call ‘evildoers.’) And those numbers are also at least six years old. So, between shouting ‘drill, baby, drill!,’ try to remember that though we can’t guarantee even a drop of newfound oil will stay in the US — we already export 268 million gallons annually to other countries who’ll pay more — all those god-fearing, American jobs and income will certainly suffer if there’s a spill. Or even if water quality just degenerates over time (see: Galveston). Surely, if we’re willing to risk such a huge economic engine in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Depression – in a time where jobs are drying up like Sun Cure in the Sahara – the potential income for states leasing coastal acreage must be beyond comprehension, right?

Not exactly. Acccording to the Minerals Management Service, from 1954 to 2004, the federal government’s received roughly $157 billion dollars from the offshore continental shelf – just over $3 billion a year. (Note: in 1995, California's beaches alone contributed $73 billion to the national economy.) And the states get an even smaller fraction: in 2005 Louisiana got $40 million while, 2004 saw California take $28.9 million and Texas received more than $15 million.

That’s million. With an ‘m’. From regions with way more potential than Virginia, which they say may –MAY -- contain 130 million barrels. (Otherwise known as two weeks of American consumption.) But where tourists definitely puked up $900 million bucks in 2007 alone and the beach is responsible for a total of $15 billion – with a ‘b’ – annually. And that’s just one of four pieces of coast that’s risking catastrophe with this single lease.

From the real estate bubble to the financial melt down, all we’ve heard the past 12 months is the government keeps “putting Wall Street ahead of Main Street.” Yet, here we are again willingly handing a golden goose to the most profitable companies on the whole planet and asking Joe the Bartender and Marge the Beach Vendor to foot the bill. Yes, I know …I know: I’m not considering the potential income in terms of oil rig manufacturing, and jobs, and ports, and all that mess. But the petroleum industry isn’t the one hurting financially right now. It’s the average, middle-class American, especially in beach towns where every dollar’s connected to the next guy being able to pay his bills. Towns where the building bust has left bank accounts in shambles. And where tourism-fueled businesses fear the worst is yet to come.

You know what’s even scarier? It took me less than hour to get the preceding numbers. A Google here. A Google there. Done. If an idiot like me can get the hard facts, so can our lawmakers. Which – besides the enormous amount of petroleum industry campaign contributions – leaves only one reason for why they don’t say no to offshore drilling right now: they don’t care. And why don’t they care? Because wedon’t care.

So start caring. First, tell the MMS no to keep Mid-Atlantic beaches clean and profitable forever. Tell your Senators, State Reps and Governors that now’s not the time to risk our evergreen coastal economies for finite energy source. And tell your friends to do the same. Then go to Surf-First after your next session and tell them everything they need to know to help keep oil rigs off our coast -- and tar off our beaches -- forever.

NOAA to Increase Protections for Elkhorn and Staghorn Coral

2008-10-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

"NOAA's Fisheries Service will increase its protection of threatened elkhorn and staghorn corals in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands through a new rule to prohibit activities that result in death or harm to either species. The new regulations take effect on Nov. 21." - excerpt from this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) article.

Sundance Festival Alternative Energy Film Winner

2008-10-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

Check out the Sundance Audience Award Winning Film "Fuel." It's about the search for alternative energy. It will actually be playing in OR, WA, and TX.

Go to http://thefuelfilm.com/

In addition Lt. Gov, Kottcamp will be at FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY GROUNDBREAKING FOR TWO MEGA WATT SOLAR FIELD

Location: Florida Gulf Coast University
Address: 10501 Florida Gulf Coast University Boulevard South
Fort Myers, FL 333965
Time: 1:55 PM

To Drill or Not To Drill: Issue for States

2008-10-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

"Nineteen coastal states face tough decisions involving energy and the environment -- whether or not to allow offshore drilling for oil and natural gas. Why? Because a 26-year federal ban on most offshore drilling was allowed to expire last month. So states along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts will get a bigger say on new drilling projects." Daniel C. Vock reports for Stateline.org October 20, 2008. Story includes detailed maps of offshore tracts.

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=348701

Another great site that is Florida Specific on Oill Drilling info:
Dont Rig Florida

THE NEW LOCALISM

2008-10-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Much thanks to Matt Walker, Surfing Magazine's Senior Editor, for a great story that has and will inspire others to act locally. This story is not just for surfers, it reminds each individual that we are ultimately responsible for protecting what we love and need for our future. It tells each person that they themselves have to act, and not only that, Matt explains how we need to group together to actually make an impact. That all being said, here is that opening paragraph. I hope it fires you up to read the whole story and to act to protect.

"I have a dream. Actually, it's more of a nightmare. It's a vision of coastal communities filled with pavement but no parking. Where cultures founded on the idea of whole towns enjoying the beach together finally give way to walled seaside country clubs for the private few. Where surfers who don't own an oceanfront home can't reach the ocean. And where industry and development leaves America's waves so polluted that we finally stop trying. It's a vision I hope won't come true, but all signs show that, with time, it will. And it's all your fault."
--Matt Walker, Senior Editor for Surfing Magazine

Link to Jim's Blog on the story which has the full article.

NEW WAVE ENERGY BLOG

2008-10-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Wave energy is heating up...Recent mainstream coverage in the Monday Wall Street Journal

In the Second wave energy summit yesterday Chad Nelson and Jim Moriarty met with a group of utilities, financiers, technology companies and enviros. It was great for us to be “at the table” as this alternative energy form starts to break.

Check out our new Wave Energy blog. Click here to go to the blog.

Our wave policy can be found at http://www.surfrider.org/policy_ocean_alt_energy

Project BLUE is on ABC News

2008-10-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

They take breaks a few times in between the surfing to discuss the importance of Surfrider and the Project Blue initiative with the Project Blue founder Vipe Desai.

ABC NEWS Link

Corals Dying in the Keys

2008-10-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

"In the 1960s, about 80 percent to 90 percent of the corals in the Keys were alive. Today, 94 percent of them are dead. [...] The cause is septic drain fields in the low-lying Keys that leach nutrient-rich waste material into the groundwater and the ocean."
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/content/news/2008/10/01/CoralReef1002.html

Florida's Beach Erosion Is Expensive

2008-10-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sand Trap: Another storm, another round of beach erosion, another round of questions about renourishment.

Beach erosion — during Tropical Storm Fay — threatens homes in Vilano Beach. As Tropical Storm Fay danced around the coast this summer, making a record number of landfalls, it also did a number on Florida's beaches. The storm eroded sand from south Palm Beach and Lantana in Palm Beach County, as well as from south Ponte Vedra and Vilano beaches in St. Johns County. In the latter case, five homes are threatened by erosion. Just a week later, Hurricane Gustav ate into vulnerable beaches on Florida's Gulf shoreline: Alligator Point in Franklin County and St. Joseph's Peninsula.

Officials say they'll spend about $154 million this year on beach restoration, renourishment, sand-transfer and monitoring projects:
Local governments-$81 million
State government-$44 million
Federal government-$29 million
Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

All those areas are chronic hot spots for beach erosion, says Mike Barnett, chief of the Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, and all are candidates for beach-restoration projects. Statewide, about a dozen projects are scheduled for 2009, many involving maintenance of previously restored shorelines, also known as nourishment.

Renourishment sites are supposed to receive new sand every six to 10 years but may need it more frequently after heavy storm periods such as the current one. Much of the sand brought to Honeymoon Island in a $2-million project less than a year ago had washed away by the time Gustav finished its tour, for example.

The projects remain controversial, despite Florida's 50-year tradition of restoring eroded beaches. Some environmentalists and sportsmen oppose the renourishment efforts because they can harm — or even bury — reefs and sea life. Some see the expensive projects as unwise public subsidies for wealthy beachfront dwellers. "Many millions of dollars flow faster than sand through your toes," complains Karl Wickstrom, editor-in-chief at Florida Sportsman magazine and a critic of the projects.

Removal of Artifical Surfing Reef

2008-09-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Surfrider is about to embark on the removal of the artificial surfing reef that we constructed in El Segundo in 2000. The artificial surfing reef was built as mitigation for lost surfing resources when Chevron built a groin and added sand to the beach north of the El Segundo Refinery. Tom Pratte, a founding member of the Surfrider Foundation, convinced the Coastal Commission to include conditions in the permit for construction of the groin with associated beach fill to include monitoring and mitigation of the nearby surf if it was adversely impacted. After 6 years of independent monitoring the California Coastal Commission determined that the surfing resources had been adversely impacted and they required Chevron to mitigate for the lost surfing. After years of negotiation between Chevron, the Coastal Commission and Surfrider it was agreed that the mitigation would be through the construction of an artificial surfing reef.

The reef was constructed in 2000 and 2001. Surfing and nearshore coastal processes were monitored extensively for 2 years and then annually thereafter.The monitoring results can be found at: this web page. The experimental reef was permitted for a 10-year period ending in 2010. In addition to not improving the surf quality of the break, some of the geotextile bags that make up the artificial reef are beginning to deteriorate. The Surfrider Foundation believes that the removal of this artificial reef is necessary to be consistent with our mission to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

Because some of the bags are damaged and others are beginning to decompose we want to remove them before the synthetic materials that make up the reef bags are discharged into the marine environment.While the artificial surf reef did nothing to improve the surf in El Segundo, the project highlighted the need for protection of existing surf breaks, and helped the California Coastal Commission recognize surfing breaks as natural recreational resources that are worthy of protection.

Here are some additional details about the artificial reef removal:
1. The removal process will begin on Tuesday, September 30 and finish Friday, October 17th.
2. The removal project is being directed by Coastal Frontiers Corporation, a Los Angeles-based coastal engineering firm with extensive experience in the installation and removal of geotextile containers from the marine environment
3. A professional dive crew from American Marine Corporation will conduct the underwater portion of the artificial reef removal process.
4. Personnel from Morrissey Construction Company will bring the bags ashore and assure of their proper disposalA Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) on the removal project is attached.

A more detailed project description can be found at: Prattes Reef Project Description document (file is 2.5 MB).

Court Ruling Prevents EPA from Ignoring Polluted Runoff from Construction Sites

2008-09-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (September 18, 2008) – Today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Pasadena, California, affirmed a decision that EPA must set standards to control storm water pollution from strip malls, subdivisions and other new development.

EPA and the National Association of Homebuilders had appealed the lower court’s ruling from 2006, but the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Waterkeeper Alliance. The decision will help to ensure that construction site pollution won’t cause beach closings, waterborne disease, flooding, fish kills and contaminated drinking water supplies. The states of New York and Connecticut supported the conservation groups.

“This decision will go along way towards protecting America’s streams and rivers from the construction and development industry,” said Melanie Shepherdson, staff attorney at NRDC. “The court made it very clear that EPA can’t just shirk its responsibilities to reign in pollution from this industry.”

Excessive sediment, which is often the result of construction activity, is one of the leading causes of impairment of the nation’s waters. Construction runoff threatens rivers, pollutes clean water sources, and leads to excessive plant growth, like algae and nuisance plants, in water bodies.

“For too long EPA has turned away from the real work of protecting our waters. This decision forcefully reminds them of their duty to the American people and our waters,” said Jeffrey Odefey, staff attorney at Waterkeeper Alliance. “It’s time that EPA and the building industry demonstrate real leadership and took the necessary steps to prevent the destruction of our lakes, rivers, and streams.”

To read the court’s decision, go to http://docs.nrdc.org/water/wat_08091801A.pdf.

OFFSHORE DRILLING: Fate of leasing bans uncertain as Congress enters homestretch

2008-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

(09/22/2008)
Ben Geman, E&E Daily senior reporter

Congress must somehow confront offshore oil-and-gas drilling policy in the final days before adjournment, but the Wall Street crisis could pre-empt a substantive energy floor battle and effectively shelve major decisions until a lame-duck session or next year.

Before leaving Washington to campaign for the upcoming election, Congress will act on must-pass budget legislation to continue federal spending beyond the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year.
Coastal drilling bans are renewed annually in federal spending bills, but this year, Republicans are pushing relentlessly to let the bans expire. Democrats have been increasingly willing to make at least some concessions on relaxing the bans in order to maintain at least some of the offshore protections.

Democratic leaders have not said how they plan to address the issue through the continuing resolution (CR) to maintain spending at least until a potential lame-duck session.
Most sources on and off Capitol Hill said an effort to ram through a full renewal of the bans is probably off the table, especially now that Democratic leaders have endorsed, however reluctantly, new drilling.

Instead, the question is whether to try and include more limited restrictions or none at all and attempt to revisit the issue at a later date. Indeed offshore drilling could resurface if there is a lame-duck session, when knowledge of who will occupy the White House could affect the issue's trajectory.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has made support for new offshore drilling a major campaign theme in his White House run, while rival Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has criticized the idea but indicated he is open to some expansion as part of a larger energy compromise. President Bush lifted executive-level moratoria over the summer and wants Congress to scrap overlapping limits lawmakers impose.

A spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said last week that energy provisions may surface on the CR. The House passed a bill last week that allows drilling greater than 100 miles from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in the 50-100 mile zone of coastal states agree.
"The book is still open on this," said an aide to a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Similarly, on the Senate side, Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on Thursday said no decisions have been made.

Durbin also said it was not an "emergency" if the bans are allowed to lapse before revisiting the issue, citing the long time frames for offshore development (E&E Daily, Sept. 19). However, it could be politically difficult to vote in favor of adding new restrictions, rather than simply continuing existing policy, even if that existing policy has only lapsed briefly.
Nonetheless, many say that whatever happens this week is unlikely to be the last word on the issue. "There is nothing between now and the beginning of the next Congress that is irrevocable," said Lee Fuller, vice president of government relations for the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Senate energy debate

While the must-pass spending bill forces at least short-term decisions on continuing, weakening or nixing the bans, a debate on energy legislation -- including outer continental shelf policy -- is scheduled in the Senate this week as well.An aide to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Friday the debate remains on the agenda before lawmakers leave for the election season, and Reid said last week that the House-passed (H.R. 6899) bill would be the vehicle for consideration.

Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) has been crafting a Democratic Senate plan.But a major bipartisan proposal has failed to materialize. The Senate's so-called Gang of 20 last week shelved efforts to craft a bill that blends drilling, conservation and alternative energy, citing a poisonous pre-election atmosphere. Instead, they hope to introduce legislation after the elections.

Also, Congress plans to take up a $700 billion Wall Street rescue package the Bush administration unveiled Saturday, which will add more pressure to the already-tight agenda before Congress breaks. Some aides said this could curtail or even squeeze out the debate on energy bills.The consulting firm Eurasia Group, in a note Friday, addressed the fast-changing priorities on Capitol Hill.

"The economy and Wall Street turmoil has recaptured the election narrative, displacing energy, at least for the time being. Lower retail gasoline prices in the U.S. through August have helped as well. Congress has a week left to pass energy legislation, but a crowded agenda and continued disagreement over funding complicate prospects for energy legislation," it stated.
Action is planned on a separate package of the renewable energy tax credit extensions (see related story).