STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DANGEROUS NEW OFFSHORE DRILLING AGENDA

BREAKING: President Trump to expand dangerous offshore drilling in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Opening the floodgates to dirty and dangerous offshore drilling is a catastrophe waiting to happen for marine life, coastal communities and our oceans. President Trump’s radical offshore drilling plan puts oil industry priorities ahead of people, ignoring widespread local and state opposition.

Together, we protected much of the Atlantic and Arctic from dirty new drilling, but now those protections are at risk. We must stand united once more, before it’s too late.

Tell President Trump and Secretary Zinke: No new offshore drilling before our oceans, marine life and communities pay the ultimate price.

- OCEANA

#stopoffshoredrilling

Sign the following message HERE. 

Dear President Trump and Secretary Zinke,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the inclusion of new lease sales in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific oceans, as well as the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, in the Draft 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program). This draft plan seems to prioritize the interests of the oil and gas industry above coastal communities that would be most impacted by offshore drilling. Please remove proposed new lease sale areas from consideration in the National OCS Program.

Expanding offshore drilling into currently unleased areas of America’s Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic and Eastern Gulf of Mexico waters would put coastal residents, businesses, and oceans at grave risk. Offshore drilling leads to increased risk of devastating oil spills that impact beaches, wildlife, ecosystems, and all of the businesses that depend on a clean coast. Ocean-based industries like fishing, tourism and recreation generate 2.2 million American jobs and $108.37 billion in GDP in U.S. coastal states, according to the National Ocean Economics Program’s 2016 report. The National OCS Program should reflect the needs of hard-working Americans that rely upon a clean and healthy coast. 

Moreover, the governors of Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Oregon and Washington oppose new leasing off their coast. More than 200 municipalities in East and West Coast states formally oppose offshore drilling and/or exploration. More than 42,000 businesses and 500,000 fishing families have also joined this overwhelming chorus of voices against expanded offshore drilling. The draft plan in its current state disregards this widespread opposition.

The draft plan presents a dangerous and backward policy direction. To meet national energy needs, the Department of Interior should wholly reconsider their proposal for expanded offshore drilling and instead refocus agency resources to identify strategies to expand clean energy sources. Advancing clean and renewable energy will allow future generations to enjoy unlimited supplies of American-made, pollution-free energy. 

I strongly oppose this draft plan and urge you to remove all new proposed lease sales in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, as well as the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Protect our coast and prevent the expansion of offshore drilling.