Atlantic Coast Members of Congress Thank Obama for Decision To Remove Atlantic States From Offshore Drilling Program

Statement

Congressmen Don Beyer (D-VA) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) led 49 other Members of Congress in writing to thank President Obama for the Department of the Interior's decision to remove the Atlantic Ocean from the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program. The decision removes the Atlantic from any offshore drilling plans until 2022.

"Offshore drilling poses tremendous risks to our coastal environment and economy. President Obama and Secretary Jewell know that it is not the key to our energy future," said Rep. Beyer. "I applaud the Obama Administration for its willingness to listen to our constituents' concerns to keep our coast ecologically sound."
"I appreciate the administration taking into account the voices of countless business owners, fishermen, and concerned residents in New Jersey," said Rep. Pallone. "Drilling in the Atlantic Ocean is a risk-reward proposition: coastal communities face all of the risk so that Big Oil can reap all of the reward. We need to continue to reject efforts to drill along our coastline, and to transition to cleaner and more efficient energy sources along our cost. That's why I introduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act, which prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing any lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the Atlantic."
Beyer and Pallone wrote Interior Secretary Sally Jewel in February 2015 and March 2016 urging her to block the drilling proposal, which would have jeopardized nearly 1.4 million coastal jobs and $95 billion in gross domestic product dependent on a clean, safe, and ecologically vibrant Atlantic Ocean.
Separately, Beyer joined Virginia Reps. Gerry Connolly (D) and Bobby Scott (D) in a letter to Secretary Jewell in February of 2015 outlining the dangers from drilling off the Virginia coast.
"Oceana applauds Reps. Beyer and Pallone for their leadership in protecting the Atlantic Ocean from offshore drilling," said Claire Douglass, campaign director at Oceana. "President Obama and other elected officials are listening to the voices of the citizens from more than 110 East Coast municipalities that have publically opposed offshore drilling activities."

The long-term environmental consequences of drilling dwarf any economic gains from the offshore rigs.

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