Estimated reserves in Florida waters would provide the United States with less than a week’s worth of oil and have no discernible effect on prices at the pump or U.S. reliance on foreign oil, says a report released Friday as part of a state Senate review of whether a ban on offshore drilling should be lifted.

The report is the latest indication that the push to open Florida waters as near as three miles from the state’s beaches may be waning, at least for this year. Another is that all 12 lobbyists for Florida Energy Associates, a group of independent petroleum explorers known as “wildcatters,” that’s been pushing for lifting the ban have withdrawn, according to the Legislature’s lobbyist registry.

That and the report were welcome news for such drilling opponents as Eric Draper, policy director for Audubon of Florida. Draper said the report “will help us to make the case that drilling is the wrong idea for Florida” and the loss of lobbying power on the other side offers hope that drilling won’t be an issue this session. “Take out the special interests and this is going nowhere,” Draper said. Continue reading this article at the Ft. Myers News Press.