Letter to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States - Call to Permanently Protect the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans from Any Future Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

I write again to respectfully request that you use your authority under section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently protect both the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean from any future offshore oil and gas leasing.

As I and 73 of my Congressional colleagues said in a letter sent to you on September 28, 2016, the United States must continue to lead the fight against global warming. A major part of that effort should include preventing dangerous and environmentally harmful oil and gas extraction in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Doing so would help our nation deliver on our climate commitments, and help protect our coastal communities from the health, environmental, and economic impacts of climate change, as well as the possibility of a devastating oil spill.

As you know, section 12(a) gives the President unilateral authority to protect sections of the outer continental shelf from future energy development leasing. Permanently protecting both the Atlantic and Arctic would demonstrate to our coastal communities, fishermen, businesses, and other stakeholders the strong opposition of this Administration to opening up these areas to risky offshore drilling. In the Atlantic particularly, preventing offshore oil and gas extraction would help protect important commercial fisheries, tourism, marine wildlife, and the communities that depend on them. The economic and health benefits of taking that step cannot be underestimated.

In addition to the economic and health impacts, in March, the Pentagon strongly opposed drilling off the Atlantic coast because it could impact military maneuvers and the Navy's ability to defend our coasts. Protecting both Oceans from fossil fuel development is in the best interests of the United States and the world.

I have supported your efforts to lower our nation's greenhouse gas emissions, encourage the development of renewable forms of energy, and protect our oceans. Your efforts have both supported new jobs and reduced pollution. Permanently protecting the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans from future fossil fuel development would help secure the climate legacy you are sure to leave behind. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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