Carbajal Requests Zinke Reverse Course on Offshore Oil DrillingUrges Administration to Remove California OCS from Potential Lease Sales
Washington,
February 5, 2018
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) urged the Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke to exempt the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the California Coast from new oil and gas development, adhering to the current 2017-2022 leasing program. In the letter to Secretary Zinke, the Congressman cited concerns of the impacts to California’s coastal counties’ $1.7 trillion tourism economy, fishing industry, and other local businesses that depend on a healthy coastline. Carbajal represents hundreds of miles of California’s coastline, stretching from Ventura up past Cambria to Ragged Point. “Not only has this Administration repealed safety regulation on offshore drilling put in place after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, they now want to open our coastline to new and perilous offshore oil and gas development,” said Carbajal. “These are sensitive areas that have not seen new leases sold in them since the Reagan Administration. This reckless energy policy is not only ignoring the will of Californians, who are leading the way in providing innovative clean energy solutions, but puts our local economies at risk with less safe and increased drilling. The Central Coast knows all too well the risks that oil drilling poses to our communities, and I will continue to urge this Administration to take our coastline off the negotiating table.” Secretary Zinke is currently examining the United States offshore oil and gas leasing program pursuant to the terms of an executive order signed by President Trump on April 28, 2017. The Executive Order directed DOI to review and potentially re-start the oil and gas lease sale planning process. The 2017-2022 leasing program does not include the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, protecting them from oil and gas leasing and exploration during that period. The Trump Administration’s Executive Order could result in drilling rigs off our coasts and beaches as early as 2019. Read the full text of the letter here or below:
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