Lawmakers: GTR ban permanent

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of 10 Florida congressional representatives authored a proposal to permanently extend a ban on oil and gas leasing of the military’s Gulf Test Range in the Gulf of Mexico. The existing ban is slated to end June 30, 2022. On April 9, the Protecting and Securing Florida’s Coastline Act was the subject of the House Committee on Natural Resources’ subcommittee hearing. The subcommittee received testimony from James R. Heald, a retired Air Force colonel, VP for strategic programs at InDyne, a contractor that maintains the GTR for Eglin AFB, Fla. Prior to joining InDyne, Heald was responsible for all developmental testing and evaluation at Eglin. The range covers 120,000 square miles, south from near Fort Walton Beach to deep into the GoM, from encroachment that could diminish its usefulness. The range is used for air combat, air-to-air missile and hypersonic testing, and drone targeting by military units such as Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.’s 33rd Fighter Wing and 96th Test Wing, and the Air Force Special Operations Command HQ at Hurlburt Field. The lawmakers’ seven-line proposal would amend a 2006 act that established an end timeline for oil and gas exploration. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Francis Rooney, a south Florida Republican. Among co-sponsors is Panhandle congressman Matt Gaetz, and eight other lawmakers. (Source: Destin Log 04/08/19)