Florida Democrat seeks halt to offshore exploration

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, citing the risk of a potential "environmental and economic disaster" from the Gulf oil spill, said on Thursday he was filing legislation to temporarily prohibit the Obama administration from expanding U.S. offshore drilling.

"Until we learn what happened, I'm asking that you also call for an immediate halt to test wells and all other exploratory operations in coastal waters," Nelson said in a letter to Obama released by his office.

Nelson, who has previously expressed concerns about plans to open up U.S. coasts and waters to more oil and gas drilling, said the proposed pause should remain in effect pending the outcome of federal investigations into the spill from the blown out Deepwater Horizon well off Louisiana.

"I am filing legislation that would for the time being prohibit the Interior Department from acting on your administration's plans to expand offshore drilling, including seismic testing and other exploratory operations," he said in his letter.

Nelson said the move was prompted by concerns about oil industry practices in the wake of the Gulf spill.

"As I have argued for decades, drilling too close to the coast poses too great a threat to the economy and environment of Florida and other coastal states.

(Reporting by Tom Brown and Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Doina Chiacu)