Washington, DC --- Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has co-signed a letter along with other members of the Florida Congressional delegation strongly objecting to plans to redraw the Federal Outer Continental Shelf, which is enacted, would endanger Florida's pristine coastline.

Specifically, this administrative act would allow Alabama and Louisiana to have a greater say over energy related activities in Lease Sale Area 181, an area in the Gulf of Mexico where drilling is currently prohibited. As you know, this area, which covers nearly 6 million acres, has been at the center of the discussion regarding offshore drilling. Activities in this area have been of special interest to Floridians because of its proximity to the State. The northeastern part of the Lease Sale 181, an area commonly referred to as the "stovepipe," comes within 16 miles of Pensacola's beaches. 

While the long term effects of this change remain unclear, Ros-Lehtinen and the other Florida Delegation members are very concerned that this is yet another attempt to undermine Florida's ability to control activities off of its own coast, including offshore oil and gas drilling.

Said Ros-Lehtinen, "To Florida's residents I tell them this: Rest assured, we will continue working together, using what ever means necessary, to ensure that Florida maintains control of offshore activities near our coast." 

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