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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2002

In a politically and environmentally popular move, the Bush administration on Wednesday announced plans to halt drilling in the Everglades and off the shores of Florida.

The $235 million deal involves buying existing drilling rights on public lands. The government will spend $115 million on coal and gas leases off the Florida Panhandle.

The government will also pay a wealthy family $120 million for existing rights in the Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This deal needs Congressional approval.

Get the Story:
Deals to Block Drilling in Everglades, Gulf (The Washington Post 5/30)
Deals block oil drilling in Everglades and Gulf (The Miami Herald 5/30)
Bush's drilling deal shields Glades, gulf (The St. Petersburg Times 5/30)
Questions linger on extent of deals' protection (The St. Petersburg Times 5/30)
$235M Deal Aims to Stop Fla. Drilling (AP 5/30)
U.S. May Buy Back Florida Oil Rights (The New York Times 5/30)
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Bush Curbs Oil Drilling in Florida Coast Tract (The Los Angeles Times 5/30)
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Bush acts to block oil drilling in Florida (The Chicago Tribune 5/30)
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Relevant Links:
Preserving Florida's Environment - http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/everglades

Related Stories:
Interior denies playing park politics (4/3)
Fla. tribe happy with court ruling (2/5)
Fla. tribe wins Everglades suit (2/4)
Norton trying to buy mineral rights (1/17)
Who is Gale Norton? (1/14)
Bush, brother sign Everglades agreement (1/10)
Miccosukee Tribe protests water policy (11/8)
Bush promotes green self (6/5)