Freep this Poll (Should Florida Lawmakers Allow Oil Rigs Withing Five Miles of the Coast?)

OrlandoSentinel.com ^ | 9/30/09

[aberaussie]

With its economy in the worst shape in decades, Florida has few places to turn. This probably means that the state will have to consider...

[aberaussie]

The yeses are winning, but the margin could be bigger!

[Frantzie]

The cruise line industry causes more damage and pays almost zero taxes due to Congressional freebie. Cruise ships also cause more damage than oil companies. Oil companies provide higher paying jobs to Americans too.

[WackySam]

5 miles? Hell no.

[stefanbatory]

we desparately need high paying jobs in this state...enough of this 20 yrs experience reqd for minimum wage crap...

[3D-JOY]

What is the distance that you can see the top of those platforms? I thought it was over 5 miles and wonder if this poll is setting us up?

[NautiNurse]

I wonder what Orlando Sentinel readers would say about drilling for oil within five miles of Disney World.

[WackySam]

What is the distance that you can see the top of those platforms? I thought it was over 5 miles and wonder if this poll is setting us up?

I think it's around 15 to 20 miles depending on the height of the structure.

[WackySam]

we desparately need high paying jobs in this state...enough of this 20 yrs experience reqd for minimum wage crap...

Put them beyond the horizon and no one other than the fanatics will have a problem with the rigs.

[This_far]

5 miles? Hell no.

Would that be a 'too close' or 'too far away' "Hell no"?

[GOYAKLA]

http://boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm
Height of eye (specify units): 6.0’

Distance to the Horizon: 3.2970 (Statute Miles)
Oil rigs make great Fishing reefs! Check out Louisiana.

[WackySam]

Distance to the Horizon: 3.2970 (Statute Miles)

That calculation does not include the height of the structure.

[WackySam]

Would that be a 'too close' or 'too far away' "Hell no"?

Too close.

[Maverick68]

We should drill straight through the heads of baby seals if that’s what it takes....

[arthurus]

From a lo-o-o-ong time Florida resident:

Florida should allow drilling rigs wherever they are needed to bring oil up to be sent to refineries.

[arthurus]

Put them on the damned beach if that is where the oil is.

[GOYAKLA]

If you eye level was 6.0” the horizon would be 3.29 miles out. If the Nimitz was 5 miles out what would you see? What is your test levels?
Not to argue but I personally would be Happy if it were 7 miles.
An oil platform whose top structure was 180’ above sea level would not be visible to you if your eye level were 5’9”. at a distance of 21.3 miles.

[arthurus]

I have no problem with oil rigs in my line of sight. I can see the Gulf of Mexico from my yard. I would love to see a forest of producing wells when I step out in the morning. And; when I bought my house I did not buy the View or the sightlines across anyone else’s property. I did not buy the Gulf of Mexico or rights to my neighbor’s lawn or his paint job.

[Elle Bee]

Should state lawmakers approve a plan to allow rigs within five miles of Florida's coast?

• Yes. Drilling could be done safely, and Florida desperately needs the money and jobs. (501 responses)

  47.6%

• No. It's still too big a risk to the state's environment and economy. (175 responses)

  16.6%

• Yes. Florida needs to do more to make the United States more energy independent. (154 responses)

  14.6%

• No. The country should focus on developing other, cleaner sources of energy. (223 responses)

  21.2%

1053 total responses

.

[arthurus]

Put them beyond the horizon

Put them whereever they can extract oil the most efficiently. If they clutter my sight I will avert my gaze.

[GOYAKLA]

You may want to check this out.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2138577/posts

[arthurus]

Would that be a 'too close' or 'too far away' "Hell no"?

I agree. Hell no. Neither.

[WackySam]

An oil platform whose top structure was 180’ above sea level would not be visible to you if your eye level were 5’9”. at a distance of 21.3 miles.

There are currently platforms in the Gulf that exceed 1500' tall.

[dynachrome]

If it is where the oil is.....

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[Sudetenland]

All who say no, I suggest we cut off all oil flow to Florida. You don't want it, then do without.

Same goes for those in California, and the Atlantic coast.

Have fun with all those windmills and solar farms. We'll keep the oil for Texas.

[GOYAKLA]

Please check this out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullwinkle_(oil_platform)
also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronius_(oil_platform)

How much of the 1500” is below the water line?

[sasportas]

What part of the west coast of Florida is this article talking about? (I’m assuming the west coast) The panhandle? Further down the coast? Surely not as far south as Tampa.

[tpmintx]

Put them on the damned beach if that is where the oil is.

I think that is one of the concerns. Oil on the beach. I don't think we get much of that anymore. I say put them where we can see them, so we have an appreciation for the hard work that it takes to fill our tanks.

[tpmintx]

There are currently platforms in the Gulf that exceed 1500' tall.

That would be 1500' from the bottom. In 1200 feet of water. There is no value in building a platform that is 150 stories above the water.

[AZ .44 MAG]

Yes. Drilling could be done safely, and Florida desperately needs the money and jobs. (567 responses) 48.9%

No. It’s still too big a risk to the state’s environment and economy. (184 responses) 15.9%

Yes. Florida needs to do more to make the United States more energy independent. (172 responses) 14.8%

No. The country should focus on developing other, cleaner sources of energy. (236 responses) 20.4%

1159 total responses

[Ros42]

Yes. Drilling could be done safely, and Florida desperately needs the money and jobs. (588 responses) 48.4%

No. It’s still too big a risk to the state’s environment and economy. (193 responses) 15.9%

Yes. Florida needs to do more to make the United States more energy independent. (178 responses) 14.7%

No. The country should focus on developing other, cleaner sources of energy. (255 responses) 21.0%

1214 total responses

[Old Student]

“There are currently platforms in the Gulf that exceed 1500’ tall.”

Yep, but most of that is UNDER the water, not above it!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Exactly!

They should be putting them right up to the shoreline if it increases our oil production and decreases the money we ship to enemies and terrorist regimes around the world.