Menendez introduces law banning offshore drilling to protect the coastal economy while it recovers from the pandemic
Menendez introduces law banning offshore drilling to protect the coastal economy while it recovers from the pandemic
COAST Act would protect the Atlantic beaches and the Jersey Shore economy from catastrophic oil spills threatening the coast
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (DN.J.) today unveiled the Clean Oceans and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act to permanently ban offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and encourage rebounding coastal economies to protect those caused by the COVID. were decimated -19 pandemic.
“As we turn the pandemic around and hope for near-normal crowds and a strong summer for businesses on the Jersey Shore, the last thing we need is to open up our coast to a man-made disaster like an impending oil spill already fragile economy “, said Senator Menendez. “Our boardwalks, restaurants, small businesses and fishing industries depend on the health and safety of our beaches and the millions of tourists and day-trippers they attract. A massive oil spill off our coast would be devastating to the environment and would hamper the ability of the economy to fully recover from COVID-19 and natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy. COAST draws a line in the sand and forever prohibits exploration and drilling for oil and gas in the Atlantic. “
COAST prohibits the US Department of the Interior from granting leases for the exploration, development or production of oil or gas in the North, Central or South Atlantic or the Straits of Florida. It is written by Sens. Cory Booker (DN.J.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jack Reed (DR.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) ), Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.).
“We know that an oil spill in the Atlantic Ocean would be an ecological and economic disaster – it would seriously damage beaches, fisheries and marine life, and damage our coastal economies, especially the thousands of small businesses that line the Jersey coastline that have already been hit by the coronavirus are pandemic, ” said Senator Booker. “We need to protect our vibrant coastal communities and our vulnerable coastal ecosystems from the potentially devastating effects of a catastrophic oil spill. By banning offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic region, the COAST Anti-Drilling Act aims to prevent an oil spill in New Jersey and our neighboring countries. “
“This much-needed legislation would permanently protect Long Island Sound and the Atlantic coast from the dangers of offshore drilling.” said Senator Blumenthal. “The Deepwater Horizon oil spill demonstrated the devastating effects of prioritizing big oil over marine ecosystems and coastal communities. I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect our waterways everywhere from harmful drilling that threatens the livelihoods of coastal tourism, precious ecological resources and thriving marine biodiversity. Now Congress must pass the COAST Act to protect our endangered waters and coastal economies. “
“Offshore drilling in the Atlantic would put the east coast at significant risk, and we’ve seen the destruction an accident can cause. This legislation is not just about protecting the environment, but protecting the tourism and fishing industries that create jobs and fuel the Rhode Island economy. ” said Senator Reed.
“By permanently banning offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, the COAST Anti-Drilling Act would protect invaluable coastlines and the local communities that depend on them.” Senator Wyden said. “America must work to end its dependence on big oil in order to truly address the worsening threats posed by the climate crisis. In this fight, stopping the exploitation of our nation’s precious coastlines and preventing Big Oil from doing more damage is vital. “
“Our country needs better investments in clean energy infrastructure to grow our economy – not big oil giveaways that put coastal communities at risk of devastating oil spills.” said Senator Warren. “This bill takes strong action to protect our environment and the local economy in Massachusetts.”
“As a lifelong advocate of efforts to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s coastal bays, I will take all steps to prevent drilling along our Atlantic coast that unacceptably threatens the state’s economy and natural resources.” said Senator Cardin, a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “Oil spills don’t respect state lines, making the risks of drilling off the Atlantic coast far greater than the rewards.”
“Offshore drilling would jeopardize the Rhode Islanders’ ability to enjoy our beaches and harm the Ocean State’s tourism and fishing industries.” said Senator Whitehouse. “We have successfully fought the last government’s proposal to open the Atlantic for drilling, and I am glad to make sure that we never have to fight such a foolish and short-sighted proposal again.”
“We don’t want the Massachusetts economy and environment to suffer from what we saw after the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.” Senator Markey said. “The COAST Act is essential to keep our coast safe for shellfish, not Shell Oil. Offshore drilling near the New England coast would threaten the Massachusetts fishing and tourism industries and put some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines at risk. I will continue to fight every step of the way to protect our New England waters from Big Oil. “
The Jersey Shore is home to over $ 800 billion in coastal real estate and a tourism industry that generates $ 44 billion annually and supports nearly half a million direct and indirect jobs, or nearly ten percent of the state’s total workforce. New Jersey is also home to a vibrant commercial and saltwater fishing industry that relies on the environmental health of the ocean and marine life. All of these are threatened by offshore drilling.
The areas along the Gulf Coast have still not fully recovered from the economic and environmental devastation of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy, which went well beyond what many believed was the worst-case scenario for an offshore oil spill.
“Coastal communities deserve healthy seas and oil-free beaches, and it is time for Congress to permanently protect our coastline from the devastating oil spills that threaten our coastal economy.” said Oceana Campaign Director Diane Hoskins. “Oceana commends Senator Menendez for reintroducing the Anti-Drilling Act for Clean Oceans and Safe Tourism (COAST), which would permanently protect the entire Atlantic coast from dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. More drilling means more climate pollution that we cannot afford. Permanently protecting our coasts from offshore drilling is a critical step in managing the climate crisis and protecting the millions of jobs that depend on a clean coastal economy. Congress must act to simultaneously combat climate change and protect our clean coastal economy by permanently protecting our coasts from offshore oil. “
“Hundreds of communities on the Atlantic coast have made it clear that this is what they want.” said Valerie Cleland, nature program advocate at NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council). “The permanent ban on drilling in the Atlantic is essential to achieve our climate goals, protect the coastal economy and protect the health of our oceans and marine life for future generations.”
Senator Menendez helped convince the Obama administration to remove the Atlantic Ocean from its five-year plan for 2017-2022 in 2015 and for President Obama to use his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to resign the Office to ban oil and gas exploration in areas of the Atlantic Ocean.
After Senator Menendez and his New Jersey and Senate colleagues vehemently rejected attempts by the Trump administration to reopen the five-year plan, President Biden issued an executive order in January that suspended new leases for oil and gas wells on state and waterways .
Sens. Menendez and current Vice President Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Led opposition to Trump Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s confirmation, at least in part because of his role in expanding offshore drilling that threatens their states’ coastal economies. Prior to his confirmatory vote, Sens. Menendez, Feinstein and Merkley asked Bernhardt to “come clean” on whether he intended to advance the Trump administration’s plans to expand offshore drilling. Sens. Menendez, Booker, and several Senate colleagues opposed the Trump administration’s withdrawal of the Well Control Rule to ease testing requirements for critical oil rig equipment such as the blowout preventer that failed the Deepwater Horizon leak.
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