Thursday, October 22, 2015
A group of Democratic West Coast U.S. senators have introduced legislation to permanently prohibit offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf off California, Oregon, and Washington. The West Coast Ocean Protection Act, by U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), was first introduced in 2010. It would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently protect the $44-billion coastal economies of the three states, which the senators note collectively support nearly 650,000 jobs.
“We cannot afford to put California’s coastal economy at risk by drilling offshore,” Boxer said. “More than half a million California jobs and more than $34 billion in annual economic activity depend on a pristine coastline, and we owe it to current and future generations to protect our coast from a disaster like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.” “We must protect our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against the risk of an oil spill,” added Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “In addition, the threat of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone increases the probability of a catastrophic oil spill in the Pacific Northwest.”
The West Coast Ocean Protection Act includes clear language stating that the secretary of the Interior shall not issue a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington.
“For decades, the ban on oil exploration off the Pacific Coast has been a boon for fisheries, recreation, and the Oregon way of life,” said Wyden. “I’m proud to join the other West Coast senators on a bill to reinstate permanent protections for our shores, the wildlife, and local economies that depend on the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and California.”
“We cannot afford to put California’s coastal economy at risk by drilling offshore,” Boxer said. “More than half a million California jobs and more than $34 billion in annual economic activity depend on a pristine coastline, and we owe it to current and future generations to protect our coast from a disaster like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.” “We must protect our coastal communities, economies, and ecosystems against the risk of an oil spill,” added Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “In addition, the threat of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone increases the probability of a catastrophic oil spill in the Pacific Northwest.”
The West Coast Ocean Protection Act includes clear language stating that the secretary of the Interior shall not issue a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington.
“For decades, the ban on oil exploration off the Pacific Coast has been a boon for fisheries, recreation, and the Oregon way of life,” said Wyden. “I’m proud to join the other West Coast senators on a bill to reinstate permanent protections for our shores, the wildlife, and local economies that depend on the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and California.”
