Statement of the Governor on Department of the Interior's Proposed 5-Year Plan for Oil and Natural Gas Development on the U.S. Continental Shelf

Statement

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior's proposed plan to explore and possibly extract oil and natural gas resources in certain federal waters, including those off of Virginia's coast.

"Over the past year, we have communicated multiple times to the U.S. Interior Department's Minerals Management Service that while Virginia would like to remain part of the national dialogue on energy independence, we have concerns over possible impacts to our environmentally sensitive coastal region. We have agreed for waters off our coast to be included so that we could remain engaged in these discussions.

"Our concerns are expressed through legislation enacted in 2006, which I signed into law. Virginia law stipulates that we are open only to natural gas exploration - that is, we do not agree at this time to natural gas production or oil exploration or production. Further, Virginia law stipulates that we are only open to such natural gas exploration at least 50 miles off Virginia's shore, and I am glad that MMS has expanded its original 25-miles limit to mirror our law.

"We also are working to modify our Coastal Zone Management program to reflect Virginia's policy of gas-only exploration no closer than 50 miles to our shore.

"Last, we have stressed to MMS the importance of working with the Department of Defense, the Navy, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Virginia Space Flight Authority, which operates the Wallops Island facility. MMS has assured me that it will work with these entities to ensure protection of Virginia's important role in national defense.

"There remain numerous milestones to meet before any drilling could begin, which likely would not occur under any circumstances before 2011. First, Congress would have to lift its current moratorium on coastal exploration in areas currently off limits, including waters off of Virginia's coast. Second, the president would have to lift the current presidential executive order placed by President Clinton prohibiting exploratory and leasing activities off the Atlantic coast. Third, there would have to be demonstrated sufficient interest from industry in the federal waters off of Virginia's coast before bidding would occur for a special sale of potential resources. And, fourth, proposed exploratory plans would have to go through a federal environmental assessment as well as a state review for consistency with Virginia's coastal management regulations.

"As we are now entering the 60-day comment period on the MMS' proposed five-year plan, I will be reiterating and expanding on Virginia's position, and I also will be working closely with Virginia's congressional delegation to ensure that Virginia's position is fully taken into account."

Source